It finally is starting to feel like fall here in Los Angeles. There is something about the chilly morning air, the leaves changing colors (well that doesn’t really happen here in LA but you get it), and the smell of a fire burning that just signals it’s almost time for the Holidays! About five years ago I treated myself to an apple pie baking class, we learned the ins and outs of making the perfect crumbly crust (lots of butter!) and the perfect apple filling and it was a treat.

I can’t get enough of pies in general but apple pie just really has my heart. But let’s be honest here, it’s not the healthiest thing to eat everyday… and in comes the creation of the most amazing granola… a play off an apple pie and really all things fall… my Autumn Apple Spice Granola.

Appley, slightly crunchy, full of flavor, and filled with healthy wholesome, and nutritious ingredients, like quinoa and hemp seeds! Not your average granola!

I created this recipe with the thought of the holidays but also thinking about how much people travel during this time of year. I know first hand it’s very difficult to grab something healthy at the airport or in the middle of nowhere at a gas station. So let’s chat about how this granola is the perfect traveling companion. I take baggies of this stuff with me everywhere I go. It’s amazing paired with greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey, add some almond milk and make it your morning cereal, or eat it in all its glory right out of the oven (you know I definitely did!). Top your overnight oats with it or even crumble it on top of a baked sweet potato, seriously the options are ENDLESS.

The house will smell like the perfect apple pie baking in your oven and your neighbors may even come knocking because of the delicious smells! Don’t worry though this makes enough to last you a solid week or more and also it’s the sharing is caring season so make a double batch and share it with all your friends!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups old fashioned organic gluten-free oats
• 3/4 cups cooked Apple Spice Quinoa (see below for recipe)
• 1/2 cup raw walnuts; roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup lightly salted pumpkin seeds
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 tbsp hemp hearts
• 1 very large honey crisp apple or 2 small/medium apples, chopped
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1/2 cup unsweetened organic applesauce
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 2 tbsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1 heaping tbsp Apple Pie Spices (or combine cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves)
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• half a squeezed lemon
• honey for drizzling

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 2 packets of apple spice tea from Celestial
• 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa (rinsed)
• 1/2 tsp apple spice seasoning or cinnamon
• 2 tsp brown sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Make Apple Spice Quinoa: Boil water and pour in a pot over the tea packets, let sit 5-6 minutes, remove tea packets, add in dried quinoa, bring water to back to a boil, stir and cover. Let cook for about 15 minutes or until the water is soaked up. Add in spices and brown sugar, stir to combine, set ¾ cup aside to cool.
3. In a very large bowl combine the oats, cooked apple spiced quinoa, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, hemp hearts, dried cranberries, and chopped apples. Toss well to combine.
4. In a skillet or saucepan melt the coconut oil. Once the oil is melted, turn heat to low and slowly stir in applesauce, brown sugar, maple syrup, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, spices, vanilla, and lemon. Stir to combine and remove from heat.
5. Pour warm mixture over the dry oat, nut, and seed mixture and stir to fully combined. I normally stir for a good 3-5 minutes.
6. Spread the granola out onto two parchment or silicone lined baking sheets and drizzle honey over the top of granola.
7. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes so the granola will get evenly toasted. The last time you stir the granola drizzle with a bit more honey.
8. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely before storing.