What makes this Holiday Granola, you ask? Cinnamon, nutmeg, orange zest, and dried cherries and cranberries makes this red and green granola taste like the Christmas!

I used honey for this recipe but you can absolutely use maple syrup if you prefer. This granola is naturally sweet from the honey – there’s no added sugar – and has lots of nutrients thanks to the rolled oats, pecans, and pumpkin seeds.

Don’t skip the orange zest – that really makes it smell and taste like Christmas! It adds so much to the recipe. If you really want to make this holiday special, feel free to add a little white or dark chocolate.

This recipe easily doubles if you want to make a bunch of jars to gift as holiday presents. Just plan on two jelly roll sheets instead of one!

Holiday Granola

3 cups rolled oats
1 cup pecan halves, cut in half
1/2 cup salted pistachios, roughly chopped
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
6 Tbsp butter
1/2 cup honey
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Zest from half an orange
1 tsp cinnamon 
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup dried cherries

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Grease a large baking sheet with nonstick spray.
2. In a large bowl, stir together oats, pecans, pistachios, and pumpkin seeds.
3. In a sauce pan, combine butter and honey. Cook over low heat, whisking occasionally, until uniform in color. Whisk in orange zest, vanilla extract, cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg, and salt.
4. Pour sauce over oat mixture and stir thoroughly to evenly coat. Pour on baking tray and spread mixture out, then pop in the oven and bake for 25-35 minutes, tossing once halfway through. Cool completely and store in air-tight containers.
5. Remove from oven and cool completely, then stir in dried cranberries and dried cherries. Store in air-tight containers.