Chai Spiced Walnut Granola

I don’t think I have ever made a chunkier, crunchier and downright chai-ier granola in my life. This is hands down a new favourite when I’m after those satisfying big clusters. Let’s be honest, who doesn’t look through the freshly made batch to hunt out the biggest clusters and then devour them before anyone else gets a look in? Please say it’s not just me.

Chai Spiced Walnut Granola

Chai Spiced Walnut Granola

I love to bake granola, and am so happy to be sharing another recipe with you today. I’ve switched the granola game up a bit here, as you’ll notice the recipe is syrup and oil free. So, what makes it so chunky? I blend juicy dates with some water, almond butter and vanilla to make a creamy and jammy paste to bind the dry ingredients. Thanks to the sugar content of the dates, the oats develop a real crunchiness in the oven without the need for added sugars.

This recipe is also gluten free (use gluten free certified oats if your intolerant) and so is a real crowd pleaser. Though what makes this Chai Spiced Walnut Granola extra special is in the name Chai Spiced. As much as I love cinnamon and ginger, I don’t often bake with chai spices in general. I think chai spices are gorgeous – they smell so comforting and fragrant and have a really powerfully sweet and spicy flavour combination that screams wellness and contentment. I used freshly ground cardamom and cloves for this breakfast cereal, along with ground cinnamon, ginger, mixed spice, a pinch of salt and vanilla essence to catapult your senses into a chai dream. I don’t have a pestle and mortar, but instead crushed the pods with a rolling pin and chopping board.

Chai Spiced Walnut Granola

Chai Spiced Walnut Granola

Remember my favourite granola trick to ensure a crunchy cereal: allow to cool in the oven switched off and the door left slightly ajar. It really does work.

Let’s get those chai spices going…

Chai Spiced Walnut Granola

  • Servings: 1 jar
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

A chunky cluster granola full of warming chai spices and juicy raisins.


Ingredients

  • 200g oats
  • 100 walnuts, crushed
  • 1 tsp each: ground cinnamon, ground ginger
  • ½ tsp mixed spiced
  • 1 cardamom pod, seeds crushed
  • 4 whole cloves, crushed
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 100g pitted dates (I like these ones)
  • 2 tbsp almond butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • 6 tbsp reserved date water
  • 100g raisins

Directions

  1. Soak the pitted dates in boiling water for 10 minutes. Remove the dates and reserve the liquid.
  2. Preheat the oven to 170Fan/190*C and line two baking trays with parchment paper.
  3. Mix together the oats, walnuts, spices and salt in a large bowl.
  4. To a food processor, add the dates, almond butter, vanilla and reserved liquid. Blend until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as necessary.
  5. Pour the wet mix over the oats and stir to combine.
  6. Tumble into the baking trays the bake for 25-30 minutes, turning over halfway through.
  7. Turn off the oven, leave the door ajar and allow to cool inside the oven to ensure crunchiness and large clusters. Once cool add the raisins, stir and store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Chai Spiced Walnut Granola

Chai Spiced Walnut Granola

Are you a chai lover? I would love to hear what you think of my Chai Spiced Walnut Granola. If you make this, please tag me in your creations – I’m @nourishing.amy on Instagram and use the hashtag #nourishingamy.

With chai love x

I love dates, but they can get pricey, and I’ve recently discovered these juicy Deglet Noir Dates from Buy Wholefoods Online which are great for raw and cooked baking – and snacking!

 

THIS POST ISN’T SPONSORED ALTHOUGH I WILL EARN A SMALL COMISSION ON ANY PURCHASES MADE THROUGH THE LINK TO THE DATES.
  1. Sheree says:

    Looks wonderful. I’ll have to make some for my husband. He loves granola and yoghurt for breakfast.

  2. […] by our love for granola and our addiction with my new crunchiest ever granola: Chai Spiced Walnut Granola, it was actually my Dad who suggested I make bars or bites with the mix. He is a big granola fan […]

  3. sophielol says:

    Hi Amy! Your homemade granola looks so nice especially with the amazing biggest granola clusters and yummy raisins and dates! I wish I could cook granola- I have just discovered Granola (shop brought though Berry Natures Path Gluten free) which is so tasty. 😱😩😂🌱👩🏻‍🍳xxxx
    I have tried making my own granola couple of months back but I have given up trying to make my own. Since every time I make my own, I burn the granola etc! It’s so annoying and not sure how I can prevent this from happening? Please help

    • That granola sounds delicious, maybe the oven is too high and you’re cooking it for too long?! x

      • sophielol says:

        I used a frying pan on hob to do my homemade granola? It’s so nice Natures Path berry granola and the freeze dried berries are so yummy xx Thank you for your help as always

  4. sophielol says:

    Definitely granola is my favourite brekkie along with freeze dried berries and my new love of Alpro Coconut milk. I on your recommendation shake the coconut milk every time before I pour so it doesn’t come out all lumpy etc. Thanks you for this great advice as I am so happy I am not pouring it down the sink! Especially has definitely prevented a little more non wasted food! 👍xxxx I have even got my Dad into eating granola now for brekkie with fruit on top.

  5. […] This first recipe may not scream CHRISTMAS to you… but at a time of indulgence, mince pies and lots of mulled wine, it’s always good to start the day with a healthy but delicious breakfast to get you going. Although this is called a pudding this is definitely breakfast material thanks to the abundance of nutritious goodness. So, what is in this Chocolate Protein Pudding? Chocolate, of course, in the form of raw cacao powder and chocolate protein powder – I was kindly sent a chocolate sea salt flavour which I am loving at the moment (if you are not a protein powder fan then feel free to sub this for some extra cacao powder and 1tbsp maple syrup). The creamy pudding-like texture is thanks to a luscious blend of frozen banana and avocado – yes, you can eat your chocolate and get your greens all in one go! This means you’ll be full of healthy fats, protein and fibre for a balanced breakfast. I’ve blended mine with coconut milk for a tropical twist and then piled it high with the best toppings as we all know this is most fun part – chocolate granola, berries, nut butter and cacao nibs were my weapons of choice here but feel free to go as crazy as you like. More banana, seeds, nuts…if you’re look for some granola inspo how about my Raw Maca Cacao Nola or my Crunchy Chai Granola? […]

  6. […] This combination of spices may just be my favourite, especially for breakfast cereals, as my Chai Spiced Walnut Granola will […]

  7. […] If you’re looking for more granola inspiration, how about my Cacao and Maca Raw Nola, my Chai Spiced Walnut Granola or my Roasted Nut Granola […]

  8. […] have a few granolas that I love for this bowl: my latest Vanilla Banana Nut Protein Granola, Chai Spiced Walnut Granola, Pistachio, Pumpkin Seed and Goldenberry Granola or even Cacao and Maca Raw […]

  9. […] If you are looking for some toppings how about my Vanilla Banana Nut Protein Granola, Hot Cross Bun Granola, Chocolate Chia and Mixed Nut Granola Bites, or Chai Spiced Walnut Granola. […]

  10. […] are endless. Serve these with Chocolate Chai Peanut Butter, other fruits, some crunchy Chai Spiced Crunchy Granola and anything your taste buds […]

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