Spiced Orange Granola

Store-bought granola is often packed with nuts (which doesn't work for our house) and loaded with extra sugar. This homemade version is everything I want in a granola: perfectly crunchy, warmly spiced, lightly sweet, and full of bright citrus flavor. It's become my go-to breakfast alongside plain Greek yogurt, fresh berries, and a drizzle of honey—and once you make a batch, you'll understand why it never lasts long.

This recipes yields about 4/12 cups of granola.

Ingredients

• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

• 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom

• ½ teaspoon ground ginger

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• Zest of ½ large orange

• ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes

• ¼ cup hemp seeds (hemp hearts)

• ¼ cup whole or ground flax seeds

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste

• ½ cup maple syrup

Optional: Substitute the hemp and flax seeds with ½ cup of your favorite seed blend, like Whole Foods' Super Seed Trio.

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 300°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

2. Brown the butter. Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until it foams and the milk solids turn golden brown and smell nutty, about 5–8 minutes. Remove from the heat immediately.

3. In a large bowl, combine the oats, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, salt, and orange zest.

4. Add the coconut flakes, hemp seeds, flax seeds, vanilla, maple syrup, and browned butter (including all those delicious browned bits). Stir until everything is evenly coated.

5. Spread the granola into an even layer on the prepared baking sheet.

6. Bake for 25–30 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until lightly golden.

7. Remove from the oven and let cool completely, about 45 minutes. The granola will continue to crisp as it cools.

8. Break into clusters and enjoy!

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Serving Suggestions

Serve over plain Greek yogurt with fresh berries and a drizzle of honey, pour milk over it like cereal, or enjoy it by the handful as a snack.

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Storage

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. For longer storage, freeze in a zip-top bag for up to 3 months.

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Maddie's Tip

Don't skip the browned butter—it adds an incredible nutty richness that makes this granola taste extra special. And resist the urge to stir too often while baking or cooling. Letting the granola sit undisturbed helps create those big, crunchy clusters everyone fights over.