Beginning to smell a lot like Christmas

One of my favourite things about the holiday season are the delightful smells that come along with the traditional trimmings… the freshforrest-y scent of a Christmas tree, the mint tingle of candy canes, the richness of mulled wine, and the spicy warmth of gingerbread.

This granola recipe is reasonably healthy (no added sugar – just what’s in the maple syrup and dried fruit – and no added fat), full of fibre and protein, and smells wonderfully like more decadent holiday baking. It’s also inspired by the wonderful homemade chai tea at Bound Lotus Meditation & Yoga Centre, where I’ll be teaching in the new year.

Chai spice granola

Ingredients

• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1/3 cup ground flax seed
• 2/3 cup roughly chopped almonds
• 2/3 cup roughly chopped filberts
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• contents of one chai tea bag
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chopped candied ginger
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup chopped dried figs (stems removed)

Method

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a large rimmed cookie sheet (or two smaller ones) sheet with parchment paper
• Combine oats, ground flax seed, nuts, and spices in a large bowl; cut open the chai tea bag and pour in the contents
• Mix liquid ingredients together and pour into the dry ingredients
• Stir oat mixture with liquid ingredients until well mixed;  spread onto prepared cookie sheet
• Bake for 15-20 minutes (until the oats and nuts start to turn golden) in preheated oven and stir in dried fruit
• Bake another 10 minutes until granola is toasted and golden brown; stirring once to ensure everything is toasted evenly
• Let cool granola cool completely on the cookie sheet and store in an airtight container
• Eat within six weeks – usually not a problem 😉