All the Best Fall ingredients go into this Homemade Granola Recipe! Layer it with Spiced Apples in a Maple Glaze, and top with Whipped Coconut Cream for a “Pie,” so delish you’ll never miss the Gluten, Dairy, or Refined Sugar.
Today I, along with several other fabulous bloggers, am honoring a dear, dear friend. Nora, from A Clean Bake, was one of the first people I was lucky enough to connect with after starting this ol’ blog. She is one of the sweetest, hardest working, most talented people I have ever known, and she’ll be getting married really soon. So, surprise! You are attending a virtual bridal shower 😉
Nora had to make a really tough decision earlier this year, when her health began to suffer. It’s not easy for a dessert blogger to cut gluten, dairy, and refined sugar completely out of her diet, but she’s been doing so much better ever since. I’m so proud of her and what she has done with A Clean Bake. I’m just amazed by her incredible talent, and ability to come up with the most mouthwatering dishes, completely free of so many of the ingredients I use every day and totally take for granted.
I don’t think I could do what she does. I mean, maybe I could eat that way, if I had to, but I do not think I could come up with all the recipes to blog about. I could probably count on one hand the number of dishes I’ve created this year that are gluten-free, and the same goes for dairy-free desserts. Heck, refined sugar?? Waving the white flag over here.
But Nora does all three with every blog post. Slow clap, Nora. Slow clap.
At first, the best I could come up with was this granola recipe. Don’t get me wrong, it’s seriously rockin’. It’s basically everything you could ever want in a granola, at this time of year. I’m talking maple, ginger, cinnamon, oats, pecans, pumpkin seeds, and cranberries. Right? I was thinking I’d make a big batch and then scarf it with a big bowl of lactose-laden Greek yogurt.
But then the wheels started turning. Soft, sweet slices of apple, kissed with cinnamon and slicked in a maple glaze. An airy dollop of whipped coconut cream…
The result was even better than I had expected. Such a treat. You won’t miss the pie crust one bit; the granola has so much more going on. And the coconut whipped cream is so rich yet light at the same time. The flavors all just work together like whoa. Happy dance!
Best Granola Recipe for Fall, & GF, DF Apple “Pie”
All the Best Fall ingredients go into this Homemade Granola Recipe! Layer it with Spiced Apples in a Maple Glaze, and top with Whipped Coconut Cream for a "Pie," so delish you'll never miss the Gluten, Dairy, or Refined Sugar.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups old fashioned oats (make sure they are "gluten-free")
- ¾ cup pecan pieces
- ¾ cup pepitas
- ¾ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 egg whites
- 1½ teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (vanilla extract can be substituted)
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- 4 fresh apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (I used Granny Smith)
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 13.66-ounce can coconut milk (I like Thai Kitchen brand)
- 1 tablespoon honey
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone mat.
- Place the oats, pecans, pepitas, cinnamon, salt, and ginger in a large bowl and toss together.
- In a large liquid measure, combine the oil, maple syrup, egg whites, honey, and vanilla, and pour over the oat mixture.
- Stir together to coat, then spread the granola over the prepared baking sheet in an even layer.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until fragrant and toasty. Cool completely, add the cranberries, and store in an airtight container.
- Heat the oil in a small skillet, then add the remaining ingredients.
- Cook on medium heat until the apples are soft.
- Layer the cooked apples over the granola and top with Whipped Coconut Cream.
- Place the can of coconut milk upside-down in the refrigerator overnight.
- Turn the can right side up, then open the can and pour off the clear liquid. Reserve for another use (it's great in a smoothie).
- Scoop the thick, white coconut cream from the bottom of the can into a small mixing bowl, add the honey, and whip for about 30-45 seconds, or until light and airy.
Special thanks go out to Meriem of Culinary Couture for organizing this virtual shower. Thank you so much for inviting me to be a part; I wouldn’t have missed this for the world!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies from Pass The Cocoa
Mini Almond Butter & Jam Layer Cakes from The Pancake Princess
Pumpkin Maple Crème Brulee from Blahnik Baker
{Gluten and Dairy Free} Mocha Almond Cookie Cups from The Sweet Tooth Life
Pavlova Petit Fours {Gluten and Dairy Free) from Club Narwhal
Best Granola Recipe for Fall, and GF, DF, Apple “Pie” from Baking A Moment
Vanilla Dark Chocolate Macarons from Bethcakes
Vegan Oatmeal Cookie Milkshakes from ImmaEatThat
Chocolate Coconut Macaroons from Gotta Get Baked
There are some really great allergen-free dishes at this shower! I hope you’ll click over to every one, say hello, and pin/share! And please visit Nora at A Clean Bake to congratulate her 🙂
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Nora, I wish you all the best on your wedding day and always! You are such a sweet friend and so special. Your hubby-to-be is one lucky guy, and the two of you are going to have such a happy life together! Love and hugs and many, many blessings to you both.
Yum you rocked this recipe. I’m drooling over here. I love a recipe that you can build on (the granola) and the coconut cream yum yum yum! Thanks for sharing and happy virtual bridal shower Nora!
Thank you Sam! I loved the granola in the “pie” and since it makes such a big batch I’ve been enjoying it for breakfast and snacks ever since. I’m so happy you liked it, thanks for the awesome feedback! 😀
This apple pie looks delicious Allie!! And your pictures are stunning 🙂
Thank you so much Zainab! <3 <3 <3
Lol, I love the “slow clap, Nora, slow clap” line. Totally awesome. Just like this GF, DF apple “pie”. You’re so inventive, Allie, and this proves it. I would cram this into my mouth so fast and I’m sure I wouldn’t miss any of the butter. Beautiful photos, my friend!
I didn’t miss a single thing, Nancy, honest to goodness! Thank you so much my dear I’m so happy you enjoyed. Hope you are having the best week ever! <3
Oh Allie, this apple pie looks amazing! the crispy granola base looks out of the world… Love your pictures.. 🙂
Thanks Arpita! I really fell in love with the crunch from the granola “crust.” So happy you liked; thanks for the sweet compliment!
How fun! Love homemade granola and they’re totally clean eating. And congrats to Nora, too!
Love bridal showers, so sweet of you girls to organize this for Nora 🙂 This granola looks perfect, Allie! Love that you made an apple pie with it and that coconut whipped cream sounds amazing! Gorgeous pics too 🙂
Coconut whipped cream is the bomb- I absolutely love it! I was worried it wouldn’t work with the apples and spice but it totally did. Thanks for the sweet comment, hon!
Slow clap, indeed! Nora is amazing! And I love all the flavors in this granola–it bet it really does taste like fall!
Isn’t she though? And ya, I just can’t get enough of maple, pecan, and pumpkin at this time of year 😉
I’m so glad you didn’t miss this party because this recipe is LEGIT! I want it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Seriously, amazing pictures and even more amazing dessert. I cant wait to try it!
Lol me too Meriem! It would have broken my heart to have missed it. I’m so glad I managed to pull something together! Thank you so much for organizing and inviting me to be a part. And thanks for the sweet comment too! xo
HI Allie, I always read your recipes but never left a comment. This dessert is absolutely delicious and healthy! Congrats to your friend for her blog and the wedding!
I’m so glad you finally decided to say hi! Thank you so much for being such a loyal reader; it really means the world to me! And thank you for your sweet comment and kind words. Hope you’re having a wonderful day, Viviana!
Oh, Allie…you are wonderful. I may or may not be tearing up just a teeny bit reading this (not admitting to anything ;)) I am so grateful to have met you and feel so lucky to have had your support and friendship over this last year. Some day, hopefully soon, we’ll get to meet in person so I can thank you for real! And in the meantime, I’ll be making this granola and thinking of you 🙂 Thank you so very much!!
Honey, no thanks are necessary! You’ve been a better friend to me than I could ever dream of. Lucky doesn’t begin… <3
It would be so hard to cut those things out of the diet but recipes like this would make it so much easier to deal with. This looks SO good, Allie!
Aw thanks hon! I know- my hubby is actually doing it right now only actually even a little more strict. I’m talking zero carb, ouch. It’s been tough.
I’m joining you on the slow clap. Gluten/dairy/sugar free is HARD, man! But you made it look completely effortless with these little bites of heaven. I will eat apple pie in any form, but I’m sure the granola would make the whole experience exponentially better. Gorgeous photos lady!!!
Wow thank you so much Erika! I’m so happy you like the recipe and the photos too. And major props to you and anyone else who’s doing GF DF SF on the regular…
Hi, I am currently a college student who sells baked goods… Curiously, Did you ever want to sell your products and if you had someway would you? Thanks so much, keep up the awesome work!!
Hey Josh thanks so much for reaching out! I get asked this a lot but I always tell people I’m really not interested in selling food. To be perfectly honest, running this website is more than a full time job for me. I spend about 65+ hours/week on it and plus I have kids. I just don’t have the time or energy for a side business on top of what I’m already doing. Great question though- I’m so glad you asked. Best of luck to you and thanks so much for reading!
I was looking for a good fall granola recipe and I really like this one. The addition of apples is great! Your pictures awe awesome!
Yay! I’m so happy you like, Mira! And thank you so much for the sweet compliment 😉
Both this granola on its own and in “apple pie” form look amazing! I’ve got to try that coconut whipped cream!
Oh my gosh you do!!! It’s so good. Every time I make it, it surprises me all over again. Thanks so much for the sweet comment, Kristine!
Will I ever be as good a photographer as you?! Gah, your pictures are beautiful!
This granola sounds amazing. I love every component, from the apples to the pepitas. Yummo. Pinning!
Thanks you are just too sweet! Honey you should have seen where I started from. Talk about embarrassing! I’m so glad you like though and thank you for pinning! xo
Wow! This looks amazing! All my favorite fall flavors…beautiful photos! Pinned!
Thank you so much, Annie! I’m so glad you popped over; and thrilled that you like the recipe. Thanks so much for pinning! 😀
A virtual bridal shower is such a neat idea. I love the granola that you shared Allie. It can be used for so many things.
Thanks Chineka! I know I have been eating it in all sorts of ways this week 😉
Yum! I can’t imagine having to bake without refined sugar and gluten. This recipe looks so delicious, even without those regular baking ingredients! Amazing!
I know it’s gotta be so hard to do that ALL the time, right? I’m so glad you like this though Laura, thanks so much for reading and for the sweet comment 🙂
Oh these look beautiful!! And so tasty! What a perfect fall dessert!
Thanks so much, Annie I’m so glad you enjoyed! These definitely have fall written all over them. Thanks for the sweet comment, hope you have a great weekend! 😀
I love virtual baby showers! Congrats to Nora.
And these parfaits? Like you said, you could have stopped at just that gorgeous granola but then you added all those gorgeous caramely apples and whipped cream?! Faceplant city. This reminds me of an awesome apple crisp-mashup! Pinned. 🙂
Thank you so much Sarah! I’m lol-ing over the “faceplant city.” So happy you liked though, thank you for sharing and for the great feedback! xoxo
I shared this recipe with one of my friends who also has to keep a gluten and dairy-free diet. And I’d eat this too, even though I don’t have to go without those two food groups. Looks delicious!
Thanks so much Jill and thanks for sharing too! Hope you have a great weekend!
LOVE this Allie!