Aggie's Kitchen

The Naptime Chef’s Cranberry Spice Granola {Recipe and Giveaway}

**Giveaway Now Closed** Congrats to Erika of Itzy’s Kitchen!

You are going to want to make this granola. I insist that you make it, actually. Not only will it make your house smell incredible, but it is the perfect snack to take with you while you are running errands in the car, watching tv, or just playing around on the computer. It’s great sprinkled over yogurt or even some vanilla ice cream. I warn you though, portion it out because you might be surprised at how much you can eat of it in one short sitting. It is definitely addictive.

This Cranberry Spice Granola recipe is the first of many recipes I have flagged from a new cookbook written by my colleague and blogger friend, Kelsey…also knows as The Naptime Chef. I’ve been following Kelsey’s blog for years, and recently got to know her even better through writing for Babble’s Family Kitchen blog together.

What you will love the most about her cookbook (which is now available on Amazon) is that there is something for everyone in the book. The premise behind her blog, and now her cookbook, is that you don’t have to compromise on good eating after having kids because your time is limited. Kelsey finds a way to create and recreate recipes that fit into a busy parent’s schedule. And I love the “naptime stopwatch” she includes with every recipe, making it easy to plan ahead.

A few dishes I’m anxious to try are Orzo with Artichokes, Tomatoes and Pine Nuts, Soba Noodle Salad, Baked Sesame Tomatoes, Sticky Orange Drumsticks (my daughter will LOVE these!) and the Artichoke Lasagna. Did this list just make you as hungry as it did me?

In the meantime though, I’ll just continue to snack on this granola.

If you have never had homemade granola, then you’re in for a treat. Homemade granola is incredibly versatile, change it up based on what you have on hand. I happened to be out of the pecans that were called for in this recipe, so I easily subbed in sliced almonds.

Print Recipe

The Naptime Chef's Cranberry Spice Granola

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil (I cut this down to about a 1/4 cup)
  • 3 cups old fashioned oats, not quick cooking)
  • 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut (I used the unsweetened variety)
  • 1 cup chopped pecans (I used sliced almonds)
  • 1 teaspoon sea or kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup apple cider or apple juice
  • 1 cup dried cranberries

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a large rimmed baking sheet with a little vegetable oil or non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, combine oats, coconut, nuts, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Gently stir together with a spoon until the oats and spices are completely mixed. In a separate bowl, combine oil, vanilla extract, maple syrup and apple juice or cider and pour over oat mixture. Stir the oats carefully and gently until completely combined and coated with the liquids.
  3. Spread the oat mixture on your baking sheet in an even layer and bake for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, take your baking sheet out of oven and carefully stir the granola so that it will toast up evenly. Place back in oven and cook for an additional 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove pan from oven and add cranberries to granola, stirring to combine. Let cool.
  4. Once cooled, store in a cool dry place in a container with a tight fitting lid.

Recipe from The Naptime Chef, with permission

Follow AggiesKitchen on Instagram and show us what recipes you are making from the blog! Use the hashtag #aggieskitchen - I'd love to see what you are cooking up!

Giveaway:

One lucky winner will receive their own copy of The Naptime Chef cookbook

Starts today, Saturday, March 10 and ends Thursday, March 15 at 12 noon (EST)

(Sorry, giveaway open to US readers only. Winner will be chosen randomly using Pick Giveaway Winner plugin application – winner will be notified by email and have 48 hours to claim prize or another winner will be selected.)

To enter into the giveaway:

Leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite snack is.

Additional Entries can be earned by:

(leave a separate comment after you complete each item, each comment will count as an entry)

1. “Like” Aggie’s Kitchen on Facebook. (if you already a fan, let me know, that counts as an entry!)

2. Follow @AggiesKitchen on Twitter (if you already follow, let me know, that counts as an entry!)

3. “Like” The Naptime Chef on Facebook.

4. Follow @TheNaptimeChef on Twitter

5. Share about giveaway on Twitter: “I want to win The Naptime Chef cookbook from @aggieskitchen http://su.pr/19C84T #giveaway ”

6. Share about giveaway on Facebook with link to this post.

7. Subscribe to Aggie’s Kitchen RSS feed.

 

(and of course…I’m required to tell you…)

Disclaimer: I received my own copy for review for this giveaway but as always my opinions on this blog are always my own.

Are you following me on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest? If you’d like to subscribe to Aggie’s Kitchen and have each post delivered straight to your e-mail box, then please add your email here. Happy cooking!

There are affiliate links in this post. I make small earnings through any purchases made through these links. Thank you for supporting Aggie’s Kitchen!

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128 comments on “The Naptime Chef’s Cranberry Spice Granola {Recipe and Giveaway}”

  1. My favorite snack currently are brownies. I am always craving them.

  2. My favorite snack, these days, is the new pure yogurt. It is super creamy and light. This granola would go great on top!

  3. This looks so good! I would love this as a parfait with vanilla yogurt and berries. Thanks for sharing this…. I can’t wait to make it. Have a wonderful weekend!!!

  4. My newest favorite snack is nuts… Peanuts, almonds, walnuts… Love them all.

  5. I love a good granola recipe. This sounds lovely! My favorite snack is peanut butter and banana.

  6. I really love to snack on granola. My favorite right now is a blueberry one…plain, on yogurt, with milk….cocoa almonds are a close second.

  7. Am I living in a closet?! Yet another great blog and cookbook I have not heard of. WOW!
    My favorite snack would be an apple with peanut butter!

  8. Ok I’m back to say I followed Kelsey on Twitter…..but really the funny thing was I clicked on the above link to follow her and I already was!! bah hahah and I thought I’d never heard of her….Oh my goodness! I just had to confess to you that I am officially loosing it ; P

  9. My favorite snack is granola and yogurt!!

  10. My favorite snack is CHEESE! Preferebly right off the block.

  11. I like aggie on FB.

  12. I follow aggie on Twitter

  13. I follow naptime chef on FB.

  14. I follow naptime chef on Twitter

  15. I tweeted giveaway

  16. I subscribe to aggies kitchen via rss

  17. i have a weakness for crackers.-

    ].l

  18. This granola looks amazing, Aggie! Actually, one of my favorite snacks is granola, and I also like nuts, fruit, and peanut butter and crackers.

  19. Cheese and crackers all the way!

  20. My favorite (healthy) snacks are greek yogurt and Kashi chewy granola bars. I love reading your blog. Thanks.

  21. My favorite snack is whole wheat toast topped with chocolate hazelnut spread.

  22. I just reviewed a cook book with a similar concept! I couldn’t agree more that you CAN still make good food once you have kiddos. The granola looks yummy. I actually also just made up a batch of granola for my parents. My favorite snack? Apples and peanut butter

  23. My favorite snack..right now are pickles and no, I’m not pregnant, I love these spicy Wickles pickles…addicted right now. I also love to much on raw almonds have done that for my entire life since I grew up around almond groves.

    I already follow Angie’s Kitchen on FB and have added all of the others above!

  24. I just spent my entire morning yesterday baking 4 batches of granola bars for my son’s swim meet so I have granola on the brain! I would LOVE to get my hands on a copy of Kelsey’s cookbook! Btw, I follow you on FB 🙂

  25. I follow you on Twitter as well.

  26. I’m following The Naptime Chef on Twitter.

  27. Popcorn is my favorite snack!

  28. And I am a RSS subscriber

  29. pretzels! yum 🙂

  30. Am a fan of Aggie’s kitchen on facebook =)

  31. Following you on twitter!

  32. Already like the naptime chef on facebook

  33. Following the naptime chef on twitter!

  34. Almost missed t he first step, mt favorite snack right now is yogurt and granola. I actually just bought a bunch of bulk plain granola yesterday to make my own!

  35. Tweeted about the give away!

  36. Gladly shared about the giveaway on facebook!

  37. Subscribed to Aggie’s kitchen RSS feed, crossing my fingers and toes!

  38. granola or a handful of mixed nuts are my favorite snacks

  39. I think this recipe will be my new favorite snack:)

  40. I like the nap time chef on Facebook.

  41. My favorite snack is dry roasted almonds.

  42. my favorite snack is apple with PB! I already “like” Aggie’s Kitchen on FB and subscribe to your RSS feed.

  43. My favorite snack is peanuts an red hots!!

  44. I already “like” Aggies Kitchen on facebook.

  45. I follow Aggie’s Kitchen on Twitter.

  46. I just liked the Naptime Chef on facebook.

  47. I’m following The Naptime Chef on Twitter.

  48. I just tweeted about the giveaway on twitter…

  49. Just shared giveaway on facebook.

  50. Lately I have been snacking on salmon jerky, very healthy. But I would have to say my all time favorite snack is those Swiss rolls, also known as Ho Hos, not so healthy.lol

    But this granola looks and smells like its going to be my new favorite, once it get out of the oven.

  51. My favorite snack is carrots and hummus

  52. I like you on Facebook.

  53. My favorite snack is honey-roasted peanuts.

  54. I like Aggie’s Kitchen on Facebook.

  55. I follow @AggiesKitchen on Twitter.

  56. I like The Naptime Chef on Facebook.

  57. I follow @TheNaptimeChef on Twitter.

  58. I tweeted.

  59. I share about giveaway on Facebook.

  60. I subscribe to Aggie’s Kitchen RSS feed.

  61. Liked you on F.B.

  62. Liked Naptime Chef on F. B.

  63. My favorite snack is cheese and crackers!

  64. I liked your Facebook page

  65. I’m following you on Twitter!

  66. I already follow Kelsey on twitter and have liked her page for ages. Does that count ?

  67. subscribed to Aggie’s Kitchen RSS Feed

  68. Aggie and Kelsey this looks so yummy! I love to snack on pistachios 🙂

  69. My favorite snack is an apple with almond butter and a slice of ezekial bread!

  70. My favorite snack would have to be cheese and crackers or peanut butter and crackers. Of course I love to snack on a million other things too but this is what I grab the most.

  71. I am a FB fan of Aggie’s Kitchen : )

  72. I am a follower of Aggie’s Kitchen on Twitter.

  73. I am a FB fan of The Naptime Chef.

  74. I subscribe to Aggie’s Kitchen RSS feed.

  75. I am following Naptime Chef on Twitter.

  76. apples and almond butter

  77. I subscribe to emails

  78. I am a facebook fan!

  79. I am a facebook fan of the Naptime Chef

  80. My favorite snack is freeze-dried Asian pears. YUM!

  81. Such healthy and yummy bars!

  82. popcorn with fresh parm cheese

  83. We love bananas and peanut butter

  84. I like Naptime on FB

  85. My favorite snack is very simple- popcorn! With butter, without butter, salt, no salt, caramel… I’m not picky 🙂

  86. I like you on facebook!

  87. I follow you on twitter 🙂

  88. I like The Naptime Chef on facebook

  89. I follow @thenaptimechef on twitter

  90. peanut butter and apple slices… mmmm

  91. This looks so good and I have been wanting to make granola. Skinny Mommy likes Aggies Kitchen on FB!

  92. My go-to snack is a mix of Cheerios, dried cranberries, lightly salted almonds, and chocolate chips that I throw together almost every day, either for myself or the kids.

  93. My favorite snack is anything sweet and savory or salty!!

  94. I love whole wheat crackers with organic PB and honey!

  95. i have been on a blueberry kick lately 🙂

  96. Aggie, I love this book too – must try the granola 🙂

  97. I liked & commented on fb, both sites, & favorite snack is roasted no salt almonds…w/ a few bittersweet chocolate chips mixed in….

  98. I love to snack on trail mix 🙂

  99. I’m an email follower 🙂

  100. I just came across a bag of dried cranberries in my pantry and was wondering what to do with them – now I know!! I don’t know if I have a favorite snack, but I do love a spoonful of Biscoff spread or Nutella! 🙂

  101. Love Granola!!! Can’t wait to try the cranberry one!!!

  102. I love to snack on whole grain crackers and peanut butter.

  103. Either mini carrots or pretzels.

  104. I tweeted the message.

  105. apples and cheese

  106. My favorite snack is popcorn!

  107. I “Like” Aggie’s Kitchen on Facebook.

  108. I Follow @AggiesKitchen on Twitter – @dkpa

  109. I “Like” The Naptime Chef on Facebook.

  110. I follow @TheNaptimeChef on Twitter – @dkpa

  111. Greek yogurt with honey

  112. I’m a hummus and baked pita chips or carrot sticks girl for snacks! Add a couple of olives and I’m really, really happy!

  113. I made this granola tonight and it’s really tasty 🙂

  114. Pingback: Chicken Change Up: Hellman's Parmesan-Lemon Pepper Crusted Chicken | Aggie's Kitchen

  115. My favorite snack is almonds.

  116. I like Aggie’s Kitchen on Facebook.

  117. I follow AggiesKitchen on Twitter.

  118. I like The Naptime Chef on Facebook.

  119. I follow TheNaptimeChef on Twitter.

  120. Pingback: My Favorite Go-To Breakfasts and a BLENDTEC Giveaway | Aggie's Kitchen

  121. Pingback: Granola | Cooking for the Fam

  122. wow this looks incredible! love cranberries!