Description

This Pumpkin Spice Protein Granola is a deliciously healthy snack that combines hearty oats, crunchy walnuts, nutrient-packed pumpkin seeds, and fiber-rich flax seed meal. Enhanced with vanilla protein powder and warm pumpkin pie spice, this granola is perfectly sweetened with honey or maple syrup and bound together by pumpkin purée and olive or coconut oil. Baked to golden perfection, it provides a flavorful, nutrient-dense crunch ideal for breakfast or anytime snacking during the cozy fall season.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

2 cups oats
1 cup walnuts, chopped
½ cup pumpkin seeds, raw
½ cup flax seed meal
½ cup vanilla protein powder
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
¼ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

½ cup pumpkin purée
⅓ cup honey or maple syrup
⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil

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Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) to prepare for gentle, even baking of the granola, ensuring it toasts without burning.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine oats, chopped walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and flax seed meal. Stir well until all the dry ingredients are evenly blended.
Prepare Wet Mixture: In a medium bowl, whisk together the vanilla protein powder, pumpkin pie spice, salt, pumpkin purée, honey or maple syrup, and olive or coconut oil until smooth and well combined.
Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients. Toss thoroughly to evenly coat all oats, nuts, and seeds with the pumpkin-spiced wet mixture.
Spread and Bake: Evenly spread the granola mixture onto a baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes, or until the granola is golden brown and fragrant.
Cool: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the granola to cool completely on the sheet. This step ensures the granola crisps up perfectly before serving.

Notes

Feel free to substitute walnuts with pecans or almonds for different nutty flavors.
Maple syrup offers a vegan alternative to honey.
Store granola in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.
Add dried fruits like cranberries or raisins after baking for extra sweetness and texture.
If you prefer a crunchier granola, stir halfway through baking.