This gluten-free holiday granola with cranberries is the perfect easy breakfast or snack!
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The Spiced Chai Blend
Inspired by Trader Joe's Spicy Chai Tea Mix, this holiday granola captures the rich aroma of chai without extra sugar or ingredients. Made with ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, and cloves, it’s a balanced blend with earthy, floral, and subtly sweet notes. Quick to make with pantry staples, it brings the warm flavors of chai to your granola.
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Why You'll Love This
The holiday season is filled with sweet treats, making healthy eating a common New Year’s resolution. If you're looking for a healthier alternative, try this gluten-free granola, which contains no refined sugar and features festive winter flavors. Made with a homemade spiced chai blend, toasted pecans, cacao nibs, and dried cranberries, this aromatic granola will make your home smell wonderful. In just one hour, you can make enough for a week's worth of festive breakfasts!
Ingredients
Here is everything you will need for this granola recipe!
- Gluten-free rolled oats: Form the base, providing texture and fiber.
- Raw pecans: Add crunch, nuttiness, and healthy fats.
- Cacao nibs: Provide a chocolatey, slightly bitter flavor and texture.
- Coconut oil: Binds the granola and adds a subtle coconut flavor.
- Maple syrup: Sweetens and helps crisp the granola.
- Ground ginger: Adds warmth and spice to the chai flavor.
- Cinnamon: Offers aromatic, sweet spiciness.
- Ground cloves: Contribute depth and a warm, spicy kick.
- Cardamom: Adds a fragrant, citrusy chai note.
- All spice: Enhances the chai blend with a sweet, complex flavor.
- Nutmeg: Deepens the chai flavor with warm, nutty notes.
- Dried cranberries: Provide a tart contrast and chewy texture.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements!
Substituions & Variations
These tips below can help you adjust the recipe!
- Nuts Galore: You can use raw almonds or walnuts instead!
- No Maple Syrup?: Try agave or honey for a more natural substitute. However the honey will be stronger!
Please note that this recipe has not been tested with any other substitutions or variations than the ones listed above.

Equipment
All you need for this recipe are large baking sheets and mixing bowls.
Instructions
The Foundation of the Granola
Any good granola starts with the oats, and not all gluten-free oats are suitable. Steel cut or quick cooking oats won’t work; you need gluten-free rolled oats. These absorb more flavor and achieve a slow crisp without burning. My top choices are Trader Joe's Gluten-Free Rolled Oats and Bob's Red Mill, Gluten-Free Regular Rolled Oats.
How Is This Recipe Refined Sugar Free?
Refined sugar includes table sugar and high fructose corn syrup, both heavily processed. To avoid refined sugar, we can use natural sweeteners like honey, agave, maple syrup, or date syrup. In this recipe, we’ll use maple syrup and melted coconut oil for natural sweetness.

Making the Granola!
Let's make the granola! Start by preheating the oven and lining a large baking sheet with parchment paper. While you can use foil, the granola does end up sticking to it so I would recommend against. Then, take a large bowl and add the gluten-free rolled oats. Next, add the raw pecans- or nuts of your choice, walnuts also work. Now for my favorite part... the cacao nibs! Cacao nibs are less processed and a fair bit less sweet than dark chocolate. In fact, because they contain less sugar, they actually have a bitter flavor. This flavor is balanced by the overall naturals sweetness of the granola. Ultimately though, this makes cocoa nibs a healthier alternative to chocolate. Fun fact, cacao nibs will not melt in their natural state. So, we can add them to the granola and bake them in the oven without them melting.
Once those three ingredients are added to the bowl, it's time for the wet ingredients. Pour the melted coconut oil and the maple syrup into the large bowl. Use a spatula to fold the granola and make sure you combine all the ingredients. Then, it's time to add in our spiced chai blend! Take the small bowl where you combined the spices and sprinkle them over the granola. Use the spatula to evenly distribute the spices over the granola. Finally, it's time to bake the granola! Spread the uncooked holiday granola across the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, stir the granola and cover with aluminum foil. The foil will allow the granola to continue to cook without burning the edges. Cook for another 15 minutes, then remove from the oven. Allow the granola to cool for at least 10 minutes.
Add the dried cranberries after baking, as they expand in the oven and become hardened. This preserves their texture and flavor.

Serving Suggestions
I love the flavors and textures of this granola on its own, but there are many ways to enjoy it—check out some of my favorites below!
- Yogurt Parfait: Pair with yogurt and fruit for a healthy holiday breakfast.
- Smoothie Bowl: Top your favorite smoothie with a crunchy finish.
- Muffins: Add a crunchy topping to muffins, especially seasonal flavors like my Gluten-Free Cranberry Citrus Muffins.
- Fruit Crisps: Use as a crumble for fruit crisps made with fresh seasonal produce.
- Puddings: Add crunch to chia seed or holiday puddings.
There are so many other ways to utilize this granola! From the classic cereal bowl to trail mix, there's countless ways to enjoy this holiday recipe. Let me know how you like it in the comments below!
Storage
Store granola in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, or refrigerate for up to a month. For longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months.
FAQ
Yes, substitute the pecans with seeds like sunflower or pumpkin seeds for a nut-free version.
Absolutely! Add in whatever you prefer to make it your own!
Related
Looking for more? Check these out!
Spiced Chai Holiday Granola
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, SnacksDifficulty: Easy8
servings10
minutes30
minutesThis chai spiced holiday granola with cranberries is the perfect easy breakfast or snack!
Ingredients
4 cups of gluten-free rolled oats
2 cups of raw pecans
⅔ cup cacao nibs
½ cup coconut oil, melted
½ cup maple syrup
3 tablespoons ground ginger
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon cardamom
1 tablespoon all spice
1 tablespoon nutmeg
½ cup dried cranberries
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper
- In a large bowl combine the rolled oats, pecans, cacao nibs, coconut oil and maple syrup
- Mix together the spices in a small bowl
- Pour the combined chai mixture into the large bowl
- Stir to combine then use a spatula to spread evenly across the prepared baking sheet
- Bake for 15 minutes on the lower rack
- Then, stir and cover with foil to prevent the granola from burning
- Bake for another 15 minutes, then remove from the oven and cool for at least 10 minutes
- Once the granola has reached room temperature, add the dried cranberries
- Stir to combine, then serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Store in an air tight container at room temperature up to one week
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