Apple Walnut Granola Recipe (Extra Clumpy & Easy)
This apple walnut granola bakes into big, crunchy clusters, and the secret is simple: a whisked egg white and a no-stir cooling method. It’s spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, sweetened with maple syrup, and loaded with crisp apple chips and toasted walnuts. Serve it over Greek yogurt for breakfast, a snack, or a not-too-sweet dessert.
This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of FAGE; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
A quick glance at this apple walnut granola recipe
- Truly clumpy. Egg white plus leaving the pan untouched gives you real clusters, not loose oats.
- Apple flavor. Freeze-dried apple chips stay crisp instead of turning soggy.
- Simple ingredients. Just 9 pantry staples and one bowl for the base mix.
- Easy to customize. It’s naturally dairy-free (it only gets creamy when you add yogurt).
- Great any time of day. Ready in 45 minutes, it works as breakfast, an after-school snack, or dessert.
Very often, our breakfast consists of a bowl of granola and thick, rich FAGE Greek yogurt. Some days, that bowl of granola and yogurt becomes an after-school/after-work snack. And then there are some other days when it’s a delicious dessert!
Ingredients for apple walnut granola
- Rolled oats (old-fashioned): They give the best chew and crunch. Quick oats get mushy, and instant oats won’t cluster well.
- Walnuts: They toast as the granola bakes and add rich, earthy crunch.
- Freeze-dried apple chips: These add apple flavor without moisture. Fresh apple would steam the granola and keep it soft.
- Coconut oil and maple syrup: The oil crisps the oats, and the syrup binds the clusters. Brown sugar can also be used for sweetness.
- Egg white: This is the clumping secret. When whisked, it acts like glue.
- Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt: These give a warm apple-pie spice.
How to make clumpy apple walnut granola
- Preheat the oven to 325°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Mix the dry ingredients. Combine oats, salt, walnuts, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, and apple chips in a large bowl.
- Make the wet mix. Microwave the coconut oil for about 10 seconds until melted, then whisk in the maple syrup.
- Coat the oats. Pour the maple-coconut oil mixture over the oat mixture and stir until evenly coated.
- Whisk the egg white until frothy (by hand or with a milk frother), then gently fold it into the granola.
- Press it out. Spread the mixture on the tray in a ¼- to ½-inch layer.
- Bake undisturbed for 35–40 minutes at 325°F.
- Cool completely, without touching it. This step builds the clusters. Once fully cool, break the granola into chunks.
Tips for the clumpiest granola
- Don’t stir while baking or cooling. Stirring breaks up the clusters before they set.
- Whisk the egg white until frothy. Foam spreads more evenly through the oats than a loose white.
- Pack it down. A compact, even layer gives you larger chunks.
- Be patient while it cools. The granola hardens as it cools, so breaking it early gives you crumbs.
How to serve apple walnut granola
Spoon it over thick Greek yogurt and fresh fruit. I use FAGE Total 5% Greek yogurt, a strained yogurt with no added sugar. It’s non-GMO, gluten-free, free of additives and preservatives, protein-rich and a good source of calcium. Its tart creaminess balances the sweet, spiced granola.
For an easy yogurt granola bar for guests or family, set out bowls of yogurt, granola and cut fruit and let everyone build their own. We ended up doing this for both dessert and breakfast the next day.
Other ways to enjoy it:
- Layer it into parfaits or fruit cups
- Sprinkle it over oatmeal or baked apples
- Use it as an ice cream topping
- Snack on it by the handful
The night I baked this Apple Walnut Granola, my daughter insisted we enjoy it for dessert as she just couldn’t wait until breakfast time. As we had a bunch of fruit hanging out in our fridge, we set out a yogurt, fruit and granola bar.
Variations and substitutions
(Suggestions to confirm against your own testing before publishing.)
- Nuts: Swap walnuts for pecans or almonds.
- Sweetener: Honey can replace maple syrup, though the flavor will change.
- Oil: Another neutral oil can replace the coconut oil.
- Spice: Use apple pie spice in place of the cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.
- Add-ins after baking: Stir in raisins or dried cranberries once the granola is cool, so they don’t burn.
Storage
Store cooled granola in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. For longer storage, freeze it in a sealed bag or container.
FAQs
The usual causes are stirring it during or right after baking, skipping the egg white, or spreading it too thin. Press the mixture into a compact layer, and let it cool completely before breaking it up.
Bind the oats with a sticky sweetener and a whisked egg white, press them into an even layer, and cool the pan undisturbed so the granola sets into one slab. Then break it into chunks.
Whisked egg white sets as it bakes and holds the oats and nuts together, giving you big, crunchy clusters.
You can leave it out, but expect smaller clusters and a less crunchy texture.
Freeze-dried chips are best for this granola because they stay crisp. Fresh apple adds moisture and makes the granola soft. If you use chewy dried apple, add it after baking.
About 2 weeks at room temperature in an airtight container.
Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup walnuts
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ginger
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup freeze dried apple chips
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 egg white
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Add oats, salt, walnuts, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and apple chips to a bowl and mix well.
- In another microwave-safe bowl, add in the coconut oil and microwave it for about 10 seconds or so, until it is melted. Then, mix the melted coconut oil with the maple syrup and whisk until well blended.
- Then pour the maple/coconut oil mix into the oats and coat the oat mix well.
- In another bowl, froth the egg white either by hand or using a milk frothier like I did.
- Fold in the frothed egg white into the apple walnut oats mix and gently mix it in.
- Line a baking tray with parchment and spread apple walnut mix onto it and spread out into a ¼ to ½ inch layer.
- Bake undisturbed for 35-40 minutes at 325 degrees F.
- When done, remove from the heat and leave the pan undisturbed until the granola has completely cooled. Then break up the granola and enjoy with yogurt and fruit!
Notes
- Don’t stir while baking or cooling. Stirring breaks up the clusters before they set.
- Whisk the egg white until frothy. Foam spreads more evenly through the oats than a loose white.
- Pack it down. A compact, even layer gives you larger chunks.
- Be patient while it cools. The granola hardens as it cools, so breaking it early gives you crumbs.
Nutrition
I get excited about food too! A little too much sometimes, lol. I’ve never tried this brand of yogurt before and will have to look out for next time I’m in the grocery. I’ve been going for more whole milk and higher fat content yogurts lately cause I enjoy their creaminess. This one looks super good and thick and love the pairing with granola. Those textures get me every time. It’s a breakfast or snack hubby and I enjoy on the regular and love with a drizzle of maple syrup. Cute name too – ‘clumpy’ 😉 Happy weekend, my friend! XOXO
I can see this being a huge hit around here. Especially on the weekends when I’ve got a crowd for breakfast before we’re off to whichever outing or parade. And we love FAGE as well, so that totally works. The egg white trick is new to me, but I’m ready to give it a try! Thanks, Shashi!
You just made me go check how much maple syrup I have because this looks so good, I want to make it NOW!! I even have the FAGE yogurt, so I guess I know what I’m having for breakfast tomorrow. LOL.
Pick me, pick me! Yogurt, fruit and granola is one of my favorite simple breakfasts — and let’s be honest, I’ll eat granola by the handful all day long… Your clumpy granola is right in my wheelhouse — love the apple chips!
This is the perfect way to start a fall morning! I just love the flavors!
I love big clusters of granola and yours looks amazing! Love the apple spice flavors too — they’re so perfect for fall!
Fage is my favorite Greek yogurt — it’s the creamiest and tastes the closest to the fresh Greek yogurt when I had in Greece years ago. These parfaits look so delicious!
This looks like the perfect breakfast – I love the pairing of apple and walnut.
What a great way to start your morning and to use all the yummy apples that are in season right now. Thanks for sharing!
Clumpy granola is my favorite too! This granola looks sooo delicious. I’m a big fan of the apple + walnut combo so I’m gonna try this soon.
You just made me go check how much maple syrup I have because this looks so good, I want to make it NOW!! I even have the FAGE yogurt, so I guess I know what I’m having for breakfast tomorrow. LOL.
Yum!
I get excited about food too! A little too much sometimes, lol. I’ve never tried this brand of yogurt before and will have to look out for next time I’m in the grocery. I’ve been going for more whole milk and higher fat content yogurts lately cause I enjoy their creaminess. This one looks super good and thick and love the pairing with granola. Those textures get me every time. It’s a breakfast or snack hubby and I enjoy on the regular and love with a drizzle of maple syrup. Cute name too – ‘clumpy’ 😉 Happy weekend, my friend! XOXO
I love big clusters of granola and yours looks amazing! Love the apple spice flavors too — they’re so perfect for fall!
Fage is my favorite Greek yogurt — it’s the creamiest and tastes the closest to the fresh Greek yogurt when I had in Greece years ago. These parfaits look so delicious!
I can see this being a huge hit around here. Especially on the weekends when I’ve got a crowd for breakfast before we’re off to whichever outing or parade. And we love FAGE as well, so that totally works. The egg white trick is new to me, but I’m ready to give it a try! Thanks, Shashi!
I love those clumpy granolas 🙂 and can snack them all day long! This looks like a perfect breakfast to wake up to.
Pick me, pick me! Yogurt, fruit and granola is one of my favorite simple breakfasts — and let’s be honest, I’ll eat granola by the handful all day long… Your clumpy granola is right in my wheelhouse — love the apple chips!
This is the perfect way to start a fall morning! I just love the flavors!
Yes! Once I discovered that whisked egg white trick for yogurt, I haven’t gone back. It’s so good! And speaking of good, we’re huge fans of FAGE here, too. I don’t think I’ve ever made it for dessert, but that makes perfect sense. I often want something sweet after dinner, but I don’t want a full-on dessert. Yogurt + fruit or a bit of granola sounds like a great idea! Thanks for sharing, Shashi!
What a great way to start your morning and to use all the yummy apples that are in season right now. Thanks for sharing!
Clumpy granola is my favorite too! This granola looks sooo delicious. I’m a big fan of the apple + walnut combo so I’m gonna try this soon.
This looks like the perfect breakfast – I love the pairing of apple and walnut.