Granola is one of those simple pleasures that can make your day.

Waking up and having a delicious, nutrient-packed breakfast ready to go will make you want to spring out of bed and take the day on headfirst, whether you’re blazing through a 10-hour day at your desk or have a full schedule of appointments and meetings.

Breakfast sets the tone for how you’ll eat throughout the rest of the day by stabilizing blood sugar levels, and can help prevent late afternoon overeating.

As the most important meal of the day – but also the meal that’s most likely to be eaten in a rush – you want your breakfast to be quick, filling, and tasty.

I love to make this simple homemade gluten-free pumpkin spice granola in big batches and store it in cute mason jars, making my morning routine smooth and easy.

Granola can always be adjusted to your taste with many different ingredients and seasonings, but the version I’m sharing today did get rave reviews.

My boyfriend even called it his “Favorite cereal ever,” to which I snapped, “It’s granola!”

LOL

This homemade gluten-free pumpkin spice granola also has lots of health benefits:

  • Oats are high in fiber, which helps digestive health. Soluble fiber has also been shown to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.
  • Walnuts are a prime source of omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation when eaten consistently. Inflammation is at the root of most modern Western diseases, like type II diabetes and hypertension.
  • Chia seeds are a health hero, packing omega-3s, fiber, and protein. Chia seeds stabilize blood sugar and keep you full for a long time, since the seeds expand in your stomach, forming a gel.
  • Pumpkin seeds are an incredible source of magnesium, which helps regulate stress: 1/2 cup gives you 92% of the recommended daily amount. Magnesium also contains a high concentration of zinc, which can help prevent osteoporosis.
  • Coconut oil fights off yeast and candida in the body, which are common ailments. Coconut palm sugar provides low glycemic, delicious sweetness.
  • Cinnamon regulates blood sugar, preventing energy dips and cravings.
  • Iodine, found in pure sea salt, is an essential nutrient. Symptoms of an iodine deficiency include depression, fatigue, and cognitive challenges. Iodine is also a key factor in regulating the thyroid gland, and therefore the metabolism.

Let’s get into this recipe for homemade gluten-free pumpkin spice granola…

Homemade Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Granola

Ingredients

2 cups gluten-free rolled oats
3/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
3/4 cup pumpkin seeds, toasted
3/4 cup chia seeds
1 cup coconut palm sugar, or to taste
1/2 cup coconut oil
5 T. pumpkin pie spice, or to taste
2 t. high quality pink sea salt

Method

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine oats, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, coconut palm sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and sea salt in large bowl. Mix together thoroughly.

Drizzle coconut oil over mixture, mix thoroughly. Taste to adjust seasoning.

Once desired sweetness and spice level is reached, spread evenly on dry baking sheet, making sure your layer of granola is no more than 1/4 inch deep.

Bake for 15 minutes then remove from oven and stir, making sure to level out the mixture afterwards.

Bake for another 10 minutes, until granola is toasted throughout.

Have a question about this recipe?

Post it in the comments below and I’ll help you out.

With love,
Lula Brown

Photo: Healthy Food For Living