A few weeks ago it was my pumpkin bread with cream cheese topping that I couldn’t stop eating. Now its my pumpkin granola flavored with a dreamy homemade chai spice and adorned with bits of dried plums and crunchy walnuts.
It is usually just take my word for it here on Kitchen Belleicious. With a panel of two judges, one of whom is 3 and the other who is well, let’s just say not into “blogging” a.k.a. my husband, you are left with my word. Although I pinky promise my descriptions and reviews are spot on in truth I love when things happen that make me smile and say- Why Yes Jessica- you were right. It is that good:) The other day I was shot down abruptly when I asked my better half so politely “Here honey, try my new pumpkin granola- you will love it! Try it or I will hurt you!” No he said! He insisted he doesn’t like the taste of pumpkin all that much nor does he like what he calls “soft granola”, a.k.a not hard as a rock like his coveted Nature Valley granola bars.
Well,well, well. I woke up the other day and much to my amazement I found my husband eating a bowl of yogurt with my-dare I say- pumpkin granola! I was definitely excited he liked my granola but more than that I was even more pumped that he was going to have to say he was wrong. Are you with me? All that to say, this pumpkin granola rocks. It is loaded with crunchy walnuts, my new favorite dried plums and a handful of homemade chai spice (including cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg) and oh yes- PUMPKIN! It doesn’t get much better than this. Kick off your shoes, sit down (or if you are like myself stand up because i don’t have time to sit down) and enjoy a cup, bowl or handful of the finest pumpkin spiced chai granola you are ever going to have!
Gift Giving: This pumpkin granola is perfect to wrap up in a glass jar and warm a loved ones or even better yet- a stranger’s day. I took a few jars back to Louisiana when we went home to see my parents and it was wonderful way to say I have been thinking of you! Below are two links to a set of fall printables I used to adorn the glass jars.
Fall Favor Tags– How Cute!
- 5 cups rolled oats
- ½ tsp salt
- 1-2 TBSP of homemade chai spice (see below)
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup plus 2 TBSP pumpkin puree
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- ¼ cup honey
- ¾ cup walnuts
- ¾ cup dried plums or raisins or even cranberries
- Homemade Chai Spice:
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp ground cloves
- 1 tbsp ground cardamom
- ½ tbsp ground coriander
- ½ tbsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground white pepper
- pinch of salt
- * Combine all ingredients and shake! Store in an airtight container. Use in variety of recipes!
- Mix the dry ingredients together- set aside. Mix together the oil, honey, sugar and extracts. Stir in the pumpkin puree and coat the dry ingredients. Mix well to make sure all oats are covered with the yummy heavenly mixture. Bake at 325 for 10 minutes, remove and stir around, put back in the oven and bake for another 10 minutes. Remove from oven add in the plums and or raisins and return to the oven to bake for an additional 10 minutes. Set aside to cool for 30 minutes ( if you can wait that long) before you eat it all gone!
I really like your chai spice blend–a nice updated spicing for pumpkin, and no doubt delicious in your granola mix.
(a great gift idea, too!)
I’ve been away, but now am headed to check out your out-of-this-world pumpkin bread with cream cheese topping!
What a delicious way to start a morning or end a day!!
Best,
Bonnie
YUM!
I love the thick chunks of granola! Best part!! Homemade granola is way better than store bough (IMO).
Homemade granola is THE best. Way better than anything you can buy at the store. Your photos make me want to grab that jar of granola and run for it 🙂
Sam
This sounds so good! Husband-approved so it’s even better 🙂 I love granola, especially with yogurt in the morning!
I might not fill up a bowl and add milk but, definitely would fill up a snack bag of this goodness, and enjoy during the day.
Your granola looks amazing. I need to try my hand at making granola. This looks like a great recipe,.
Velva
They sound so yummy! Love anything pumpkin!
granola to celebrate fall! I love it!! The spices, the pumpkin… this is shouting COME TO ME!
Jessica, the photo with the granola in milk is awesome. I want some! This looks delicious. I love the idea of giving it as gifts. I know your family enjoyed it so much
It’s my first time here..and just to let you know..I love granola!! I will try out this recipe!
I love pumpkin anything! Have not tried it in granola before. Sounds and looks wonderful!
What’s not to love about this wonderful granola? With those chai spices, I know that everyone here would love it. 🙂
Betty! It’s so great to hear from you! I hope you are doing well!
oooh, well you don’t need to convince me. two of my very favorite ingredients… pumpkin- and chai!!! {you’re talkin’ to a former starbucks employee here… how could i not love BOTH? :)}
I love the hard granola bars too. I read this recipe yesterday and thought that I needed to make it right away, but didn’t have any of the ingredients on hand. Bookmarking fa’ sure!
Ooh Jessica! This is amazing! My quinoa pumpkin granola is all gone, so I have to try yours now! It’s crazy addicting bit so good! Funny, my son wouldn’t touch it, or said he wouldn’t, then before I know it, he’s eating a bowl full!! Must be a guy thing!
Loves ur idea of using quinoa . I must try that next time
You have not steered me wrong before, so I’ll take your word for it. This granola looks delicious!
My hubby would say the same thing…but I know I’d never catch him eating it…LOL…he is one stubborn man! I never have thought of adding pumpkin to granola, but it sounds (and looks) spectacular! Pinning so I don’t forget to try this 🙂
Thanks for the pin. It definitely caught me by surprise seeing him eat it. He was almost kinda embarrassed – i loved it!
Oh this sounds so delicious!! I am going to print this out and make it really soon!!
If your husband can eat this even after not liking pumpkin, I take your word of trying this in my kitchen. And you know what I always make my granola at home.
oh, i’ve never thought of blending pumpkin puree into the granola! well, i’m not jessica! ” try it or i’ll hurt you” haha..you really a naughty mummy!
Lol! People know not to mess with me in the kitchen! Lol!
This granola looks amazing. The photo of it in that bowl with the milk makes me want to go out and make some right now. I love your idea putting in jars as gifts and those gift tags, so cute!
Your hubby sounds like mine at times. My husband loves my blog, but sometimes feels like it gets in the way of other things. I am always pawning off samples on him as well, and always asking for his opinion on how something is. He can get irritated at times when I ask for too much detail on a dish. Hey, we need detail so we can convey it to our readers, right? I do have to say that he is one of my biggest fans though, as I’m sure your hubby is as well.
xoxo,
Jackie
Same here! He loves the food and he supports me in everything but at times he is like do u really have to take a pic or can you stop cooking for a day or so??? I can’t help it! The blogging yes I could stop if needed but the cooking- it’s what keeps me sane:)))
What a fantastic seasonal treat Jessica. Definitely on my to make list!!
Funny -my husband can be like that sometimes too! 😉 I love your adorable little packages. Ah I need more hours in the day!!
Don’t we all! If only I didn’t need sleep:)
I have a long list of granola recipes to try, but this is moving to the top. Seriously!
Blushing! I think u will love it but u and the mr are so creative would love to see y’all do a remake of granola
Eee! I love homemade granola and your homemade chai spice sounds lovely! I can’t think of a better way to begin the day 🙂
Thanks friend. But I can think if something better- your muffins! Any and all of them:)
I love those warming chai spices, this sounds perfect!
I adore your granola, Jessica! I drink chai every morning and make it from scratch. You know how excited I was when I saw this granola that has chai spice in it. 🙂
Well, now I am hungry! 🙂
I LOVE CHAI and you know it, right?!? Did you make this granola for me?!?! 😀
[…] Here in Tennessee we have had what they are calling a Canadian Summer. It has been so much cooler and we have had so much more rain than usual this month. Most of the time it is so very hot and humid here in August. For the past week it has been so cool here in the mornings. Our mums started to bloom a few weeks ago so along with the much cooler weather It has had us thinking about Fall. It is one of my favorite seasons.These are our mums that have started to bloom.Look at these mums from this past years Fall Festival at The Produce PlaceHere is a picture of our son, grandson and me enjoying the fun activities at Jackson’s Orchard Even though we know that Summer is in no way over this spurt of cooler weather got us thinking about the Fall season that will be here before to long. We always look forward to picking out pumpkins. I love baking pumpkin bread, muffins and pies. Also my friend Jessica from Kitchen Belleicious has a recipe for some awesome Pumpkin Spiced Chai Granola […]