Apple Pie Granola with Dried Cherries and Walnuts

Breakfast is my favorite "time" of day. Not meal, time. I'm a morning person so I love my coffee and breakfast. And there's almost nothing better than making your own breakfast. Especially if it's fast! I loved my pumpkin cranberry granola so much I wanted to make another go-to version. This is so easy to make and it's great in a bowl of almond milk, over some healthy yogurt, or just alone as a snack. 

Apple Pie Granola with Dried Cherries and Walnuts

I found some great dried, dark cherries at Trader Joe's that are unsweetened. Since they are a little larger than dried cranberries, which I usually use, I gave them a rough chop so there would be a delicious cherry tidbit in every bite! YUM! I also chopped up some walnuts and tossed them right in. Don't skip on the nuts people. They are a must. Swap them for another kind or double the amount, but don't skip them. Yeah.

Apple Pie Granola with Dried Cherries and Walnuts

       adapted from my pumpkin cranberry granola

3 C old fashioned oats
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4-1/2 tsp salt

3/4 C unsweetened apple sauce

1 tsp vanilla
1/3 C 100% real maple syrup
1 T canola oil
1 C dried, unsweetened cherries, roughly chopped
3/4 C chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 300 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix all dry ingredients together in one bowl and wet ingredients in separate bowl. Combine wet and dry ingredients until everything is combined. Gently fold in cherries and walnuts.

Pour granola on baking sheet and spread out in an even layer. Bake for 30 minutes, remove from oven, stir and spread out again. Bake for another 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely. Granola will continue to crisp up as it cools. Store in an air tight container.

Even though granola is not a "warm" dish like oatmeal, it's the perfect thing to make when it's cold because the smell of the cinnamon and vanilla baking away seem to warm the entire house! The apple pie smell wafting through the kitchen was enough to make me forget that it was snowing AGAIN even though it's spring break!

Don't believe me? Check out our deck! 

Be sure to check out a few other breakfast ideas while you're here. I've got lots!