Skip to main content

Chai-Spiced Granola

4.0

(2)

ChaiSpiced Granola recipe
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones

This granola, inspired by masala chai, doesn’t get its fragrance from warm spices like cinnamon and ginger alone—there’s also ground black tea in the mix, which adds a pleasant astringency. Buckwheat groats are incomparably nutty and crunchy—but if you can’t find them, simply sub in more old-fashioned oats.

All products featured on Epicurious are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes about 6 cups

Ingredients

1 bag black tea
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup buckwheat groats
1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
½ cup raw pumpkin seeds
½ cup raw sunflower seeds
½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1 tsp. ground ginger
½ tsp. ground cardamom
½ tsp. ground cloves
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp. ground cinnamon; plus more for serving (optional)
¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
¼ cup virgin coconut oil or vegetable oil
1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt
6 Tbsp. honey; plus more for serving (optional)
Coconut or whole-milk yogurt and pear or apple slices (for serving)

Special equipment

A spice mill

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 300°. Remove tea leaves from bag and finely grind in a spice mill (you should have about 1 tsp.).

    Step 2

    Whisk ground tea, oats, buckwheat groats, coconut flakes, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, ginger, cardamom, cloves, a few grinds of pepper, and 2 tsp. cinnamon in a large bowl to combine.

    Step 3

    Cook applesauce, oil, salt, and 6 Tbsp. honey in a small saucepan, whisking to combine, over medium heat until lukewarm, about 1 minute.

    Step 4

    Pour applesauce mixture over oat mixture and stir with a flexible rubber spatula until oat mixture is thoroughly coated. Spread granola out on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet and bake, stirring every 15 minutes, until deep golden brown and dry to the touch, 40–45 minutes. Let cool.

    Step 5

    Serve granola in bowls with yogurt, pear, and more honey and cinnamon (if desired).

    Do ahead: Granola can be made 2 weeks ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
A nourishing, cozy breakfast you can throw together with fresh or frozen berries.
A big batch of overnight oats made with chopped almonds and mild rice milk that tastes just like horchata. An ideal and filling breakfast.
This vegetarian bowl is as colorful as it is hearty: brown rice and quinoa, roasted tofu and broccolini, avocado, cabbage slaw, and a turmeric-spiked dressing.
Featuring a bright layer of sweet mango, these colorful chia puddings are worth waking up early for. Make them ahead of time for a quick breakfast treat.
This riff on the Laotian classic comes together in 20 minutes.
Stable enough to last days in the fridge (and hearty enough to sate a breastfeeding mom).
Sour cream scones get treated to a cinnamon-sugar swirl and crunchy streusel crown.
This weeknight-friendly chicken dinner—made with pomegranate molasses and a toasted walnut relish—is inspired by the flavors of Persian fesenjan.