This apple cider granola tastes like fall in a bowl! Crunchy and warmly spiced, it’s made with oats, apple cider, apple butter, pecans, dried apples and more. Enjoy it for breakfast, on yogurt, or straight from the jar.
It’s officially apple cider season!
This granola is built around cinnamon and apple pie–style spices. An apple cider and brown sugar syrup, enriched with apple butter, coats oats, pecans and chewy dried apples, then bakes into crunchy clusters. It’s fantastic stirred into yogurt, enjoyed as cereal, or eaten by the handful.
I adore apple cider more than most fall flavors. It’s nostalgic without being polarizing, and it’s a family favorite—my kids love it too. This recipe started from a reliable granola base I use often, then I updated the flavors and add-ins to highlight apple cider and apple butter for a rich, cozy profile.
I prefer chewy dried apples (not apple chips) in the mix—they add a familiar, oatmeal-like chew that pairs beautifully with crunchy clusters. For extra crisp apple flavor, sprinkle in freeze-dried apple slices after the granola cools.
For spice, you can use store-bought apple pie spice or mix your own from cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and ginger. A tiny pinch of cardamom adds welcome warmth if you like. The apple butter simmers with cider, butter and brown sugar to form a thick, appley glaze that helps the granola clump into large, crunchy clusters.
Use the nuts you prefer—pecans lend an especially autumnal flavor, but almonds or walnuts also work well. If you’d like to dress it up further, add coconut, pepitas, flax, or extra dried fruit like cranberries or cherries. I tend to keep the mix family-friendly and focused on apple flavor.
Apple Cider Granola
Apple Cider Granola
Yield:
6
cups
15 mins
35 mins
30 mins
1 hr 20 mins
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup apple preserves or apple butter
- ½ cup apple cider
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- pinch ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 ½ cups pecans, chopped
- ¾ cup chopped dried apples (chewy variety)
- 1 cup freeze-dried apple slices
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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In a saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, apple cider, apple preserves or butter, spices and salt. Whisk until combined and let simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
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In a large bowl, mix the oats, chopped pecans and chopped dried apples. Pour the warm cider mixture over the dry ingredients and toss until everything is evenly coated.
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Spread the granola in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake 25 to 35 minutes, stirring twice during baking to encourage even browning and clusters.
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Remove from the oven and let the granola cool completely on the sheet. Once cool, break it into chunks and sprinkle with freeze-dried apple slices. Store in an airtight container for up to one to two weeks.
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Serve as cereal, on top of yogurt, or snack by the handful.
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Bring on the fall eats!