Clumpy Orange Spice Granola (oil free)
Vegan / Oil-Free / Gluten-Free / Refined Sugar Free
Winter is definitely on the horizon here in the Rockies.
The clouds hang low over the trees. A little dusting of snow gives everything a bit of a fair-tale quality. And we’ve been taking full advantage of the cool weather to get extra cozy in our little trailer, crank up the oven, and fill our tiny home on wheels with the scent of warm spices and freshly baked granola.
We love this particular recipe because it yields some seriously clumpy granola. I’m talking huge clumps that are perfect for dousing with warm, creamy plant-based milk and tossing with plenty of raisins. This granola is also perfect for snacking since the clumps are so large. I love keeping a bag of this in the cupboard for snacking or for long drives. If you really want to take it to the next level, I suggest slathering a piece of this granola with some natural almond butter (and maybe even a little honey or a few raisins). It’s like granola toast, and it’s really really delicious.
Honestly, if for no other other reason, you should make this seriously clumpy, orange spiced granola just for the absolutely divine scent of fresh oranges, fragrant cinnamon, sweet maple syrup, and toasted nuts that will fill your house as it bakes.
And if you (like me) tend to be an impatient baker, you should know that it is also totally acceptable to open the oven door and snag a hefty spoonful of the stuff right off the tray as it bakes :D. The warm, toasted, under-baked granola is pure magic. Like warm soft-baked cookies.
When we were kids, my brother and I used to hover around the oven while my mom baked granola, spooning out bowlfuls of the warm gooey stuff and topping them with raisins and milk for the ultimate soft-baked granola bowls.
And that’s really the joy of homemade granola. Not only is the end product so much healthier and tastier than the store-bought stuff, the process of making it is also pretty fun (and so tasty. And it smells so good. Just make it. You’ll be happy).
In only 10 minutes, you could be putting a tray of fragrant granola into the oven. Then all you have to do is sit back (preferably with a coffee), and enjoy the sweet fragrance of cinnamon and citrus. And—if you’re up for it—maybe even a little bowl of soft and toasted under-baked granola while you wait 🙂
Seriously Clumpy Granola
First, preheat the oven to 250 F and line a RIMMED baking sheet with parchment paper. Then mix together flax, chia seeds, and orange juice in the bottom of a large bowl and set it aside for 5 minutes to thicken.
While you wait, chop the nuts (leave them on the cutting board for now).
When the flax and chia mixture is thick, add the almond butter and mix until well incorporated. Then add the maple syrup, salt, and cinnamon and mix again. Now add the remaining ingredients (buckwheat, oats, nuts, and seeds). Mix very well until all the dry ingredients are well coated with the wet mixture.
Use the back of a flat spatula to press the granola onto the tray in a solid layer on the baking sheet. Really take a minute here and use your weight to press down as much as you can. This is what will ensure you get the maximum clumpi-ness.
Bake at 250 F for 45 minutes. Then turn down the oven to 200 F and bake another 20 minutes. Take out the tray and break the layer into a few clumps so you can flip the granola clumps over. Put the tray back in the oven for 20-40 minutes or until dry to the touch and lightly browned. Turn off the oven and let it sit for a final 30 minutes. Each oven is different so monitor to ensure it doesn't burn during the final cooking phase.
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Servings 20
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 223
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 10g16%
- Sodium 76mg4%
- Potassium 246mg8%
- Total Carbohydrate 26g9%
- Dietary Fiber 5g20%
- Sugars 5g
- Protein 8g16%
- Vitamin C 3%
- Calcium 30%
- Iron 8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Ingredients
Directions
First, preheat the oven to 250 F and line a RIMMED baking sheet with parchment paper. Then mix together flax, chia seeds, and orange juice in the bottom of a large bowl and set it aside for 5 minutes to thicken.
While you wait, chop the nuts (leave them on the cutting board for now).
When the flax and chia mixture is thick, add the almond butter and mix until well incorporated. Then add the maple syrup, salt, and cinnamon and mix again. Now add the remaining ingredients (buckwheat, oats, nuts, and seeds). Mix very well until all the dry ingredients are well coated with the wet mixture.
Use the back of a flat spatula to press the granola onto the tray in a solid layer on the baking sheet. Really take a minute here and use your weight to press down as much as you can. This is what will ensure you get the maximum clumpi-ness.
Bake at 250 F for 45 minutes. Then turn down the oven to 200 F and bake another 20 minutes. Take out the tray and break the layer into a few clumps so you can flip the granola clumps over. Put the tray back in the oven for 20-40 minutes or until dry to the touch and lightly browned. Turn off the oven and let it sit for a final 30 minutes. Each oven is different so monitor to ensure it doesn't burn during the final cooking phase.
Recipe Notes
If you want to minimize dishes, this recipe is already awesome since it only requires one bowl. But, if you want to make it even easier on yourself, you can just put your bowl on a scale and weigh out the ingredients (which means you don’t even have to dirty measuring cups/spoons)!
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