Chai Spiced Walnut Granola with Dates and Cardamom
Fragrant homemade granola featuring warm chai spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger combined with crunchy walnuts and chewy raisins. The natural sweetness comes from blended dates and almond butter, creating clusters that hold together beautifully. Perfect for breakfast bowls, yogurt parfaits, or snacking. The extended cooling in the oven ensures maximum crunchiness and large, satisfying clusters that store well for weeks.
Ingredients
Instructions
- 1
Soak pitted dates in boiling water for 10 minutes, then remove dates and reserve the liquid
- 2
Preheat oven and line two baking trays with parchment paper
- 3
Mix oats, walnuts, spices and salt in a large bowl
- 4
Add dates, almond butter, vanilla and reserved liquid to food processor and blend until smooth and creamy, scraping down sides as necessary
- 5
Pour wet mixture over oats and stir to combine
- 6
Spread onto baking trays and bake, turning over halfway through
- 7
Turn off oven, leave door ajar and allow to cool inside oven to ensure crunchiness and large clusters
- 8
Once cool add raisins, stir and store in airtight container
Tips
Reserve the date soaking water as it adds natural sweetness and helps bind the granola together.
Cool the granola in the turned-off oven with door ajar to achieve maximum crunchiness and large clusters.
Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks to maintain freshness and crunch.
Good to Know
Store in airtight container for up to 2 weeks
Can be made up to 2 weeks in advance
Serve with yogurt, milk, or eat as snack
Common Mistakes
Don't skip the oven cooling step to avoid soft granola
Blend date mixture thoroughly to avoid lumps in final granola
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
Nut-Free Alternatives
General Alternatives
FAQ
Can I make this without a food processor?
You can mash the soaked dates with a fork and mix with other wet ingredients, though the texture won't be as smooth and binding may be less effective.
What if I don't have cardamom pods?
Use 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom instead, or increase the mixed spice to 3/4 teaspoon for similar warmth and complexity.
How long will this granola stay fresh?
Stored in an airtight container, this granola stays fresh and crunchy for up to 2 weeks at room temperature.