Christmas Gingerbread Granola Recipe | Recipes from a Pantry (2024)

Posted on03/06/201311/10/2023Updated on11/10/2023

Jump to Recipe

You won’t be able to get enough of this amazing ChristmasGranola. It makes a great make-ahead festive breakfast or snack so all you need to do is sit back and enjoy Christmas Morning. Suitable for Vegan and Gluten Free diets. Post includes Weight Watchers Points.

So Christmas comes with a whole heap of fun, craziness, family, friends and leftovers. And one thing you can do to enjoy it as much as possible is to whip up a batch of make-ahead breakfast recipes like this fragrant homemade Christmas Granola.

Perfectly roasted oats complimented by nutty almonds, fragrant with gingerbread and orange zest and completed with sweetness from the cranberries and pistachios. And this gingerbread granola can be whipped cook it up in the Air Fryer in less than 15 minutes.

Easy Christmas Breakfast

Along with easy Air Fryer Bacon, these delish Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls, and these Air Fryer Pumpkin Biscuits, You can serve it for Christmas breakfast, as a quick healthy snack, over a smoothies and if you want to add it to some pancakes, granola bars, thick yogurt and other desserts.

The best thing about making your own granola is that you can make it just how you like. If you like oats, then have more. If you find that shop-bought granola is too sweet, then you make it just as sweet as you want.

If you have never made your own homemade granola before then just repeat after me “it is easy, it is easy, it is easy”. Basically, you combine the ingredients and then just bake them in the oven. See what I mean. Now, do I hear you running off to your pantry?

Why You’ll Love It

• It is packed full of festive flavors and colors. Plus it smells just like Christmas!
• This homemade granola is super affordable and made with everyday store cupboard staples.
• It is very very easy to make! Mix, bake and go.
• It iseasy to double or triple the recipe to feed all those holiday guests.
• Prep-ahead Ease.You can whip up a big batch and keep till needed.
• Get the kids cooking – they particularly love the mixing bit, as well as trying it at all stages.
• It is naturally sweetened and suitable for vegan and gluten free diets.

Ingredient Notes

• Oats – You need to use the old fashioned rolled oats for this instead of the quick cook variety for this almond granola.
• Spices and flavoring – ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves add that gingerbread flavor. Vanilla essence and orange zest make this even more christmassy.
• Maple syrup – This acts as a binder and sweetener. You can use honey instead.
• Vegetable oil – this acts as a binder and helps make the granola crunchy. You can use olive oil canola oil instead.
• Water – reduced the amount of oil needed which make it that little bit healthier.
• Whole almonds – Raw whole almonds were used. If you want to add already roasted almonds then do so as the Air Fryer Granola is cooling down.
• Cranberries – Use sweetened dried cranberries – add them after the granola has cooled down.
• Pistachio nuts – These are already roasted and added when cooled down. They add Christmassy color and flavor.

How To Make Gingerbread Granola

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions in recipe card below.

1. Heat the oven to fan assisted 275F /120C / 140C / gas 1.
2. Mix syrup ingredients together in a pot and warm gently on the cooker until combined.
3. Stir the spices, orange zest and almonds into the oats, add in the syrup and combine thoroughly.
4. Spread mixture in a thin layer onto a baking tray (you might need two trays) and bake for 20 mins.
5. Then add in the almonds, mix again and bake for another 20 mins.
6. Remove the granola from the oven and allow to cool.
7. Stir in the pistachios and cranberries and any extra fruits (if you are using) and serve.

Make It In The Air Fryer

Get full ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Preheat air fryer to 350F / 180C.
2. Mix syrup ingredients together in a microwave bowl and cook for 30 seconds and mix. Repeat till combined.
3. Stir the spices, orange zest and almonds into the oats, add in the syrup and combine thoroughly.
4. Line Air Fryer with parchment paper, spread oat mixture and cook for 7 minutes, then remove then remove stir and cook for a further 4 minutes.
5. Remove and stir again and cook for further 2-5 minutes or until golden brown. Do keep an eye on it as it cooks quickly once browning start.
6. Decant Air Fryer granola to a lined baking sheet so it cools and crisps up.
7. Stir in the pistachios and cranberries and any extra fruits (if you are using) and serve.

Air fryer temperatures will varydepending on the type and model, so use the cook time as a guide only and adjust as needed.

Christmas Granola Tips

• It is best to use a rimed baking sheet when baking the granola.
• This is not too sweet – I like it that way. But you can double the syrup mixture if you prefer.
• Let the granola cool before storing or eating as it gets crisper when it cools.
• Add even more cranberries and pistachios to suit your taste.
• Feel free to use actual gingerbread spice if you have it.
• Do make sure to cook the granola at the temperature the recipe calls for. If you cook it at a high temperature you risk the granola not drying out but actually burning.

Delicious Variations

• Vary the nuts you add in – walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts are all great options.
• Try different spices, like nutmeg and cardamom.
• Vary the grains you add in. You can add grains like quinoa into this recipe.
• Vary the fruits. Try some dried figs and sultanas.

Storage + Edible Gifting

• Let cool completely before storing When properly dried, I have stored this for up to 4 weeks with no problems.
• You can also freeze granola in a sealable freezer bags, with the air removed for up to 3 months. Freeze without fruit, add fruits after thawing.
• Edible gifting – The great thing about this holiday granola is that you can whip up big batches and gift families and friends, neighbors and teachers over the festive season. Package up in a cellophane bag or mason jar, label and gift away.

FAQs

More Air Fryer Breakfast Recipes

• Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs.
• Air Fryer Bacon.

More Granola Recipes

Below are some other vegan granola recipes you might like;

• Low Carb Granola.
• Apple Granola Recipe.
• Almond Butter Granola.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 8 Blue Plan SmartPoints in a serving

Thank you for reading my Festive Vegan Granola recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, UK food blog.

Get The Christmas Granola Recipe: