Chai Spice Granola

Chai Spice Granola is sweet and crunchy. Filled with chai spices, it's the perfect treat to enjoy with a warm mug of tea.‍

Hot take: chai is one of the most underrated fall flavors.

Seriously. Everyone goes crazy for pumpkin and apple. But they forget about some of the other amazing autumnal foods.

I mean, pecans, one of my FAVORITE nuts, are a great fall flavor. And when you turn them into bourbon pecan pie, oh my gosh I'd take that over apple or pumpkin pie any day.

People also forget about yummy flavors like maple, ginger, and pear. Y'all. There are so many great fall flavors. How beautiful that we get to enjoy such a variety of foods.

And, of course, chai.

Chai is probably the most forgotten, because people tend to dismiss it as just a 'flavor' of tea.

Well, friends, we're taking chai to the next level today. We'll take the warming spices you can find in any chai tea and using them to spice up this granola.

What is chai?

The word chai is actually derived from a Chinese word that means tea. So basically, chai means tea.

But you'll usually hear it used to refer to a specific type of tea. The full name is masala chai. It's black tea flavored with herbs and spices, with added milk.

The typical spice mix includes cardamom, the most prominent ingredient, as well as cinnamon, ginger, star anise, and cloves. Variations might include pepper, coriander, nutmeg, or fennel.

We'll draw on some of these spices for our granola. YUM.

Why I love this Chai Spiced Granola

• Dietary needs - this recipe is plant-based, oil-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and refined sugar-free
• Perfect treat - this granola is made from whole food ingredients with fiber and nutrients for a healthy and tasty breakfast or snack
• Simple ingredients - With only a few ingredients, you likely already have all the ingredients you need to make this granola recipe!

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

• Quick Oats: Oats are the classic granola ingredient. Normally I use rolled oats, but I find quick oats pair better with the next ingredient.
• Puffed Millet: Millet is a grain, just like oats, but puffed millet is special. Technically puffed millet is already cooked, and you can eat it as is. When we bake it as granola it gets nice and crispy. You can also use puffed rice or another puffed grain.
• Chai Spices: We'll use cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, coriander.
• Salt: Salt enhances the sweet flavors.
• Maple or Date Syrup: I used date syrup in this particular recipe, but as in all my granola recipes, maple syrup is interchangeable for date syrup.
• Vanilla Extract: For an extra burst of vanilla flavor.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1. To make this delicious granola, start by preheating the oven and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2. Then add the oats, puffed millet, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, coriander, and salt to a large bowl.

Step 3. Stir in the maple or date syrup and the vanilla extract.

Step 4. Spread onto the baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Step 5. Let the granola cool completely on the pan. This step is key because it's what ensures the granola gets nice and crispy. When it's cool break it into clusters. Enjoy!

Recipe Prayer

Thank you God for warming foods that are both delicious in healthy. Amen.

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