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Home » Recipes » Single Serving Breakfast

By Joanie Zisk Published: Dec 5, 2016 · Updated: Nov 25, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links · Please read my disclosure

Small Batch Gingerbread Granola

Jump to Recipe
gingerbread granola on a silver tray next to a jar of molasses.

Enjoy the warm spices of the season in this gingerbread granola. Filled with nuts, oats, molasses, and maple syrup, it's perfectly spiced and great for breakfast or to snack on.

a mason jar that has fallen over with granola scattered all over a silver tray.

You'll love celebrating the holiday season with this wonderfully spiced gingerbread granola recipe.

I'm always looking for new flavors to incorporate into my granola recipe. Homemade granola is one of those incredibly delicious snacks that make it easy to mix in all kinds of different flavors and ingredients.

Why This Recipe Works

  • Tested and perfected recipe: With this gingerbread granola recipe, I've taken the ingredients found in my traditional granola and added the warm, spiced flavors of the holiday season.
  • Incredibly delicious: This granola is crisp and crunchy, subtly spiced, and completely addicting.
  • Homemade granola is best: You just can’t beat the taste of made-from-scratch granola. Packaged granola is often loaded with unhealthy ingredients to extend the shelf life. Homemade granola is granola in its purest form. Simple ingredients which deliver amazing flavors.
  • Less expensive than buying granola: While having a stash of store-bought granola in your pantry may be more convenient, it's often pricey for what's in the bag. Homemade granola is much cheaper than store-bought.
  • Perfect for gift-giving: A small jar of homemade gingerbread granola makes a wonderful gift.
a close up of a jar filled with granola.

Ingredients

gingerbread granola ingredients on a kitchen counter
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Ingredient Notes

  • Oats: Use old-fashioned rolled oats. If you’d like to make gluten-free granola, be sure to use gluten-free oats. I do not recommend using quick oats.
  • Coconut: Use unsweetened shredded coconut.
  • Walnuts or pecans: These nuts are delicious in this gingerbread granola recipe but feel free to use nuts you love, just use the same amounts as called for in this recipe. Consider using chopped cashews or chopped almonds instead.
  • Brown sugar: Use light or dark brown sugar. If you don't have brown sugar in your pantry, make your own with our easy brown sugar recipe.
  • Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and cloves: These spices are found in gingerbread recipes and make this granola so incredibly delicious.
  • Butter: Salted butter is what I use, you can use coconut oil instead.
  • Maple syrup: You can use honey, agave, or brown rice syrup instead of maple syrup.
  • Molasses: Essential for gingerbread. We recommend using 2 tablespoons.
  • Salt and vanilla extract: Adds flavor.

See below for ways to use leftover ingredients.

How To Make Gingerbread Granola

See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.

  1. Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
  2. In a large bowl, combine the oats, coconut, walnuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and cloves.
oats, nuts, coconut, and sugar in a large mixing bowl
  1. In a small pot on medium heat, melt butter and stir in maple syrup, molasses, and salt. Cook, stirring frequently until the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
butter, molasses, and maple syrup simmering in a pot.
  1. Pour the butter/molasses mixture over the oats and nuts and stir until well mixed.
unbaked gingerbread granola in a mixing bowl
  1. Pour onto a large rimmed sheet pan lined with either parchment paper or a silicone baking liner and spread the unbaked granola across the entire pan. Bake for 10 minutes.

Pro Tip: You will need to bake the granola for a total of 30 minutes, removing the pan from the oven to stir the granola every 10 minutes.

unbaked granola spread evenly over a baking sheet
  1. Remove from the oven and stir the granola to encourage even toasting. Place the baking sheet back in the oven to bake for another 10 minutes.
stirring gingerbread granola with a spoon on a baking sheet
  1. Remove from the oven and stir the granola one last time. Bake for another 10 minutes for a total of 30 minutes.
clumping granola before baking to make granola clusters
  1. Remove from the oven, cool, and then transfer the granola to a container to store.
baked gingerbread granola on a lined baking sheet

The flavors in this gingerbread granola are fantastic. The spices are subtle and the granola is crunchy and filled with flavor. I can't resist eating it right off the baking sheet - it's just so good!

Expert Tips

  • Gingerbread granola makes a lovely holiday, hostess, or teacher gift. Pour the granola into little mason jars and decorate with a festive ribbon for a no-fuss gift.
  • Make granola clusters: If you like big clusters of nuts and oats press the oats mixture into little 1-inch ovals for the first 10 minutes of baking.
  • Cool the granola: Be sure to let the granola cool before eating or transferring it into a jar. As the granola cools, the crispier it gets.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Will Gingerbread Granola Last?

Completely cool the granola on the baking tray before transferring it to a container. Granola will keep well for up to a week when stored at room temperature in an airtight container.

Can I Use Quick Oats In This Granola Recipe?

Although I don't recommend using quick oats in granola recipes, you can use them. The cook time will be much less and the granola will not have as much texture as it would if you use rolled oats.

Is Homemade Granola Cheaper Than Packaged Granola?

Making your own homemade granola is definitely cheaper than store-bought granola.

Can This Recipe Be Doubled?

Yes. If you'd like to make a large batch of gingerbread granola, double the ingredient amounts in this recipe.

Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients

If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch gingerbread granola recipe, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:

  • Oats: Blueberry Crumble, Lace Cookies, Baked Oatmeal, Pineapple Oat Cake
    Coconut: Cowboy Cookies, Coconut Macaroons, Coconut Cream Pie, Mocha Oatmeal Bowl
  • Nuts: Apple Muffin, Pecan Pie, Chicken Salad, Brownies
  • Maple syrup: Maple Walnut Muffin, Breakfast Bread Pudding, Baked Salmon, Apple Cinnamon Scones
  • Molasses: Sloppy Joe, Soft Ginger Cookies, Gingerbread, Mini Meatloaf, Baked Beans
  • Vanilla: Panna Cotta, Mini Spice Cake, Banana Cream Pie, Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Serving Suggestions

While this gingerbread granola is delicious eaten as is, you might like to enjoy it in other ways too:

  • With milk: Serve granola with milk and sliced fruit.
  • With yogurt: This makes a wonderful breakfast or snack.
  • With ice cream: Granola makes a delicious ice cream topping.

More Small Batch Granola Recipes

  • Butter Pecan Granola
  • Pumpkin Spice Granola
  • Fresh Apple Granola

RELATED: 20 Breakfast Ideas Worth Waking Up To

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If you’ve tried this gingerbread 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!

a jar of granola tipped over on a silver tray with granola all over the pan.

Small Batch Gingerbread Granola

Enjoy the warm spices of the season in this gingerbread granola. Filled with nuts, oats, molasses, and maple syrup, it's perfectly spiced and great for breakfast or to snack on.
5 from 16 votes
Print Pin Rate
See the post above for expert tips,
FAQs and ways to use leftover ingredients.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Cool: 15 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 289kcal
Author: Joanie Zisk

Equipment

  • Baking sheet
  • Mixing bowl
  • silpat or parchment paper

Ingredients

  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
  • 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 2 tablespoons salted butter
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 1½ teaspoon vanilla extract
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
  • In a large bowl, combine the oats, coconut, walnuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and cloves.
  • In a small pot on medium heat, melt butter and stir in maple syrup, molasses, and salt. Cook, stirring frequently until the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
  • Pour the butter/molasses mixture over the oats and nuts and stir until well mixed.
  • Pour onto a large rimmed sheet pan lined with either parchment paper or a silicone baking liner and spread the unbaked granola across the entire pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
    Pro Tip: You will need to bake the granola for a total of 30 minutes, removing the pan from the oven to stir the granola every 10 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and stir the granola to encourage even toasting. Place the baking sheet back in the oven to bake for another 10 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and stir the granola one last time. Bake for another 10 minutes for a total of 30 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven, cool, and then transfer the granola to a container to store.

Notes

Expert Tips
  • Gingerbread granola makes a lovely holiday, hostess, or teacher gift. Pour the granola into little mason jars and decorate with a festive ribbon for a no-fuss gift.
  • Make granola clusters: If you like big clusters of nuts and oats press the oats mixture into little 1-inch ovals for the first 10 minutes of baking.
  • Cool the granola: Be sure to let the granola cool before eating or transferring it into a jar. As the granola cools, the crispier it gets.
Nutrition Facts
Small Batch Gingerbread Granola
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 289 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 11g69%
Trans Fat 0.2g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 15mg5%
Sodium 130mg6%
Potassium 320mg9%
Carbohydrates 37g12%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 21g23%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 176IU4%
Vitamin C 0.2mg0%
Calcium 55mg6%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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.

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About Joanie Zisk

Joanie Zisk is the creator of OneDishKitchen.com, the number one go-to site for single serving recipes. The aim of One Dish Kitchen is to inspire individuals with access to single serving recipes that will enable them to enjoy the preparation of a meal that will nourish both body and soul. Her website is filled with hundreds of easy, flavorful recipes that are tailored for those cooking for one. Joanie is the author of "The Ultimate Cooking For One Cookbook" and her recipes and food photography have been featured in various publications including, TODAY.com, Huffington Post, Real Simple, Self.com,Women’s Day, Buzzfeed, and others. Come say hello and follow Joanie on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Comments

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Linda ONeill says

    December 20, 2022 at 3:10 am

    Delicious and so versatile. I just made this true to your recipe. Turned out great. Love your web site and all your commentary.

    Reply
  2. Melissa says

    December 17, 2022 at 3:35 pm

    OMG!!! SOOOO GOOD!
    I made this to give as part of Christmas treat plates, and it is FANTASTIC! I tripled the recipe with no problem and added craisins after it cooled.
    If you like gingerbread, you will LOVE this!

    Reply
  3. J. Hegyi says

    August 24, 2022 at 10:19 am

    Good recipe.

    Reply
  4. kittie says

    April 13, 2022 at 6:45 pm

    Any idea if adding some craisins would be an issue and if not at point would I add them

    Reply
    • Joanie Zisk says

      April 14, 2022 at 9:47 am

      That would be fine. If you're adding dried fruit to your granola, add it at the end. You don't want to run the risk of burning your dried fruit in the oven. Stir it in after the granola cools.

      Reply
  5. Elizabeth Jackson says

    December 06, 2021 at 3:09 am

    I do have one question. I baked my granola at 300 according to specified temp in recipe. It came out darker than the recipe picture. Also slightly grainy. It tasted great and I love it just wondering about it's appearance and what I may need to change????

    Reply
    • Joanie Zisk says

      December 06, 2021 at 10:38 am

      Hi Elizabeth, it could be that your oven may be running hotter than it should be. You can test the true temperature of your oven by placing an oven thermometer inside the oven and heating the oven to 350 F. See if the thermometer registers the same temperature as the oven. It's also very important to stir the granola from time to time to help it brown evenly. I'm not sure why your granola was grainy, it could also go back to stirring the granola every 10 minutes.

      Reply
  6. Karen says

    November 30, 2019 at 11:52 am

    This recipe sounds amazing, I can't wait to make it!
    One quick question for you....do you use salted butter or unsalted butter in your granola recipes?

    Reply
    • Joanie Zisk says

      November 30, 2019 at 2:07 pm

      I use salted butter, Karen. I hope you enjoy the granola!

      Joanie

      Reply
  7. Lisa A Langston says

    March 05, 2019 at 8:26 am

    Hey! I just came across your blog and love it! I love small batch recipes since there are only two of us! What can I use to substitute the maple syrup in this recipe? I am not a fan of maple syrup. Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Joanie Zisk says

      March 05, 2019 at 9:37 am

      Hi Lisa,
      Honey or agave would be a good substitute.

      Reply
  8. Angie says

    December 09, 2016 at 2:13 pm

    This mixed into some greek yogurt was fantastic! Perfect holiday flavor too!

    Reply
  9. Katerina says

    December 08, 2016 at 2:23 am

    Oh my goodness!! This is absolutely incredible!!! LOVE it!!

    Reply
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