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This small batch apple granola is made with one fresh apple, warm spices, oats, nuts, and a touch of maple syrup for natural sweetness. Baked until golden and crisp, it’s a wholesome homemade granola that’s perfect anytime.
Featured Comment
“This granola recipe is amazing and I loved it!”
– Ashleigh
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Homemade & Fresh: No preservatives. The fresh apple chunks plus warm spices give natural flavor and aroma.
- Balanced Sweetness: Sweetened with maple syrup and brown sugar for just the right touch, not overly sweet.
- Healthy & Fiber-Rich: Rolled oats, nuts, seeds, and apple add fiber, protein, and healthful fats.
What I love most about this granola is the way the fresh apples transform it into something truly special. The apples bring a gentle sweetness and soften the texture just enough to make every bite satisfying.
Paired with cinnamon and vanilla, it fills the kitchen with the most inviting aroma and gives me a snack that feels warm, comforting, and wholesome every time I make it.
Looking for more small batch granola recipes? You’ll love our indulgent small batch butter pecan granola, small batch gingerbread granola, small batch maple granola, or small batch pumpkin spice granola.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch apple granola recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Oats: Use old-fashioned rolled oats. For gluten-free granola, choose certified gluten-free oats. Do not use quick oats. Extra oats can be used in small batch oatmeal cookies or blackberry crisp for one.
- Coconut: Use unsweetened shredded coconut. Leftover coconut works well in ambrosia for one or small batch morning glory muffins.
- Nuts and Seeds: I use chopped walnuts and almonds, but cashews, pecans, or pumpkin seeds are also great choices.
- Maple Syrup: Honey, agave, or brown rice syrup can be substituted. Extra maple syrup is perfect in a small pecan pie, small batch mulled cider, or single serving French toast casserole.
- Apple: Use one apple, peeled or unpeeled. Extra apples can be used in a small apple cake, apple cobbler for one, or small dutch apple pie.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Recipe Variations
Granola is easy to customize, and small changes can give it a whole new flavor. Try one of these apple granola variations:
- Apple-Cinnamon-Raisin: Stir in raisins after baking for extra sweetness.
- Nut-Free with Seeds: Replace nuts with pumpkin or sunflower seeds for a crunchy, nut-free option.
- Spiced Apple Granola: Add cardamom, ginger, or extra nutmeg for bold, warm flavor.
- Dried Apple Granola: Fold in chopped dried apples or cranberries after baking for natural sweetness.
How To Make Apple Granola
These photos and instructions help you visualize how to make a small batch of fresh apple granola. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
- In a large bowl, mix oats, coconut, walnuts, almonds, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves.
- In a small pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in maple syrup and salt, then remove from heat and add vanilla.
- Pour the butter mixture over the oat mixture and stir until coated.
- Fold in the diced apples.
- Spread the mixture evenly on a rimmed sheet pan.
Pro Tip: Spread the granola well. The apples add moisture, and even spreading helps it bake up crisp.
- Bake for 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes to ensure even toasting.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
Expert Tips
- Customize It: Swap in your favorite nuts or dried fruits, keeping the amounts the same.
- Make Clusters: For chunky granola, press the mixture into small ovals on the baking sheet during the first 10 minutes of baking.
- Cool Completely: Let the granola cool before storing to ensure it crisps up properly.
- Re-Crisp If Needed: If it softens, spread on a baking sheet and bake at 300°F for 7–8 minutes to bring back the crunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store cooled granola in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. For longer storage, refrigerate it.
Yes, dried apples add a chewy texture and longer shelf life. Add them after baking to prevent burning.
Enjoy it with milk, over yogurt, on smoothie bowls, or sprinkled on baked apples for extra crunch.
RELATED: 20 Single Serving Breakfast Recipes Worth Waking Up For
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this baked apple granola or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Small Batch Apple Granola
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts
- ¼ cup chopped almonds
- 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon allspice
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup diced apples (about 1 large apple)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
- In a large bowl, mix oats, coconut, walnuts, almonds, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves.
- In a small pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in maple syrup and salt, then remove from heat and add vanilla.
- Pour the butter mixture over the oat mixture and stir until coated.
- Fold in the diced apples.
- Spread the mixture evenly on a rimmed sheet pan.Pro Tip: Spread the granola well. The apples add moisture, and even spreading helps it bake up crisp.
- Bake for 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes to ensure even toasting.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
Notes
- Customize It: Swap in your favorite nuts or dried fruits, keeping the amounts the same.
- Make Clusters: For chunky granola, press the mixture into small ovals on the baking sheet during the first 10 minutes of baking.
- Cool Completely: Let the granola cool before storing to ensure it crisps up properly.
- Re-Crisp If Needed: If it softens, spread on a baking sheet and bake at 300°F for 7–8 minutes to bring back the crunch.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Dear Joanie, I love the idea of apple pie for breakfast! This is so delicious.
Thank you, Allie. It disappears pretty quickly at my house.
I LOVE apple pie but even more when it’s in granola form. I would love to top my yogurt with a bunch of this…yum!
It’s so good over yogurt. Thanks, girl!
Winner Winner!! I’m going to have to make this ASAP! My kids will be so happy 😉
Yay! My kids love it. Thanks, Gwen!
Ooooh this is divine!!
Thank you, Amanda!
This sounds so terrific – just absolutely perfect for fall! And I’ll bet that it makes your kitchen smell heavenly as it’s baking! I definitely think it’s perfect for breakfast or for snacking, and I can just really imagine that it would be stellar over some vanilla frozen yogurt for dessert … so many possibilities! Yum!
Thanks so much, Shelley!
I love apple pie and granola is one of my addictions. Can’t wait to make up a big ol’ batch to enjoy.
Thank you, Amy. Granola is one of my addictions too 🙂
Joanie, I am really digging this idea! Many people have excess apples right now and this is an easy way to use them up. And something different than the standard apple pie (which there is nothing wrong with!)
Thanks, Kacey. It’s a great way to use fresh apples.
Can I freeze this granola as it’s only good for 1 week in a jar?
I don’t recommend freezing apple granola because it is made with fresh apples and won’t freeze well. You can leave the apples out and freeze the granola in an airtight container.
any time you can have breakfast that tastes like pie, well that is a good day
That’s so true, Heather. Thank you.
Love the sound of this apple pie granola…how long does this last with the fresh apples? Or, maybe it won’t last long enough to worry about LOL!
Thanks, Judy! If you store the granola in an air-tight container at room temperature, it will stay good for up to 2 weeks. The granola will lose its crunch during this time because of the apples. Honestly, in my house, the granola only lasts a few days. My family and I eat it pretty quickly.
Now this is granola I can get into! Absolutely delicious!
Thanks, Paula!