How to Make Carrot Granola – Oats, Carrots and Pie Spice
Carrot granola? You bet! Grated carrots dry beautifully and add a unique twist to every day granola. The warm, comforting pie spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger add extra flavour, perfect for fall or winter. Start your day off right with some of this granola that will remind you a little of carrot cake. In fact, when I made jars of it to give as gifts, I called it Carrot Cake Granola.
Also Read: Homemade Granola, Make Your Own Pie Spice, Crunchy Oat & Honey Granola Bars, Yogurt, Granola & Citrus Parfait, Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing
Two things were at play when carrot granola became a thing in our house. First, we had a glut of homegrown carrots that I needed to use up. Second, I wanted a new twist on our usual homemade granola. We love the original, in fact, I make it at least twice a month, but we needed a little variety. And so, carrot granola was born.
How to Get Granola to Form Clumps?
If you want granola that forms clumps there are a couple of things you can try:
- Add more sticky sweetener. Honey is a great glue and will harden when cooled. You’ll have to experiment to see how much honey to add.
- Add a lightly beaten egg white to hold things together. Add after mixing all the other ingredients.
- Press mixture into pan firmly and tightly so it bakes together. Stir less frequently during baking.
- Let granola cool completely on baking sheet without stirring.
Here are some before and after baking photos.
How Long Does Granola Last?
Store granola in air tight sealed containers for two to three weeks. If you need to store it for longer, keep it in the freezer. Freezing will keep the nuts, seeds and oils from turning rancid. And you’ll have the perfect snack on hand at all times!
Recipe for Carrot Granola
Carrot Granola
Ingredients
- 3 cups large flake rolled oats
- 1 1/2 cups grated carrots
- 1/2 cup raw, unsalted sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup raw, unsalted pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds)
- 1 cup coarsely chopped nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts)
- 3 tsp pie spice
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Pour oats in a large bowl.
- Stir in carrots, seeds, nuts, and pie spice.
- In small bowl, mix oil, syrup, brown sugar and vanilla.
- Pour oil mixture into oat mixture and stir until well distributed.
- On large rimmed cookie sheet, spread out mixture evenly.
- Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring every 8-10 minutes to ensure even browning.
- Remove from oven and cool completely.
- If you wish, add your favorite dried fruit and any other additional items (eg. puffed quinoa, coconut, bran buds, dried pineapple, dried cranberries, golden raisins, flaxseed, etc.)
- Place in airtight container.
- Store sealed in a cupboard for several weeks. For longer storage and maximum freshness, keep in freezer.
Video
Notes
Consider adding other seeds like ground flaxseeds, hemp hearts, chia seeds.
Add dried fruits (cranberries, pineapple, raisins, apples) after roasting.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
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This looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it!!
Hi Susan,
If you love granola, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this recipe!
All the best,
Getty