This pumpkin seed granola is perfectly crisp, lightly sweetened, and full of cozy fall flavors. Made with simple ingredients like oats, pumpkin seeds, pecans, and maple syrup, itโs a wholesome homemade granola youโll want to make again and again. Enjoy it as a great breakfast, snack, or crunchy topping for yogurt or smoothie bowls.
Why Youโll Love This Recipe
- Itโs a great way to make homemade pumpkin granola with pantry staples.
- The combination of pumpkin spice, maple syrup, and vanilla extract gives it warm, comforting flavor.
- Youโll get that perfect crunchy granola texture using whole grain oats and a slow baking process.
- This pumpkin and flax seed granola stays crisp for weeks when stored in an airtight container or in the freezer for best results.
- An easy alternative to store-bought granola or any popular organic granola at the store.
Looking for other delicious pumpkin recipes? Try these!
- Pumpkin baked oats with chocolate chips
- Pumpkin pie spice pancakes
- Pumpkin protein balls
- Pumpkin protein muffins with chocolate chips
- Pumpkin protein shake
Serving Ideas
This pumpkin seed granola makes a great breakfast or snack any time of year. Sprinkle it over yogurt (easy yogurt granola bowlsโ4 ways), layer it with fruit for a quick parfait, or enjoy it with your favorite milk for a cozy morning bowl. Itโs also a great way to add crunch and great flavor to smoothie bowls (protein berry smoothie bowl) or even roasted fall fruit (easy air fryer peaches).
Ingredient Notes
- Old-fashioned rolled oats - do not use quick oats or steel cut oats for this recipe. Old-fashioned oats are perfect for this granola!
- Pumpkin seeds/pepitas - pepitas are the small, green seeds from certain types of pumpkins that naturally donโt have a white shell. Theyโre often labeled as pumpkin seeds at the store and add a mild, nutty flavor and extra crunch to the granola.
- Chopped pecans - feel free to swap with another nut of choice.
- Flaxseeds - use whole flaxseeds for this recipe instead of flax meal.
- Cinnamon - can swap with pumpkin spice to make pumpkin spice granola with even deeper fall flavors.
- Dried fruit - while optional, craisins or dried cherries are a great addition to this granola.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements for this pumpkin flax seed granola.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- For extra crunch, try adding sunflower seeds, chia seeds, or coconut flakes to the ingredient list.
- Substitute coconut oil for avocado or olive oil if you prefer a subtle coconut flavor. You can also try our fan favorite homemade coconut granola.
- Swap pecans for almonds or walnuts, or mix in both for more texture.
- Stir in dried cherries, craisins, or even dark chocolate chips once the granola has cooled. If you love chocolate, try our homemade chocolate granola recipe.
- If you like stronger spice, add a touch more pumpkin spice or cinnamon before baking.
How to Make Homemade Pumpkin Seed Granola With Flax
For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 300ยฐF and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, pumpkin seeds, chopped pecans, and flax seeds.
Step 2: Stir to evenly distribute everything.
Step 3: In a separate bowl or glass measuring cup, whisk together the oil, maple syrup, brown or coconut sugar, cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice), vanilla, and salt until well combined.
Step 4: Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients.
Step 5: Stir well.
Step 6: Spread the granola mixture evenly onto your prepared baking sheet. Press it down gently with a spatula. Bake for 40โ45 minutes, stirring halfway through to prevent burning on the edges. Keep an eye on it during the last 5 minutes and remove the pan when the granola is golden brown. Let the granola cool completely on the pan without stirring.
Step 7: Once cooled, stir in the craisins or dried cherries if youโre using them. We prefer to store the granola in the freezer to keep it fresh and crisp.
Pumpkin Seed Granola FAQs
Once cooled, transfer your crunchy granola to an airtight container. You can keep it at room temperature for up to 2 weeks or refrigerate for 1 month. To refresh granola thatโs lost its crunch, spread it on a rimmed baking sheet and warm it in a 300ยฐF oven for 5โ7 minutes to crisp it back up.
This pumpkin seed granola freezes exceptionally well. After cooling completely, place it in an airtight container or reusable freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. You can scoop out what you need directly from the freezerโno thawing required. Keeping it frozen also helps preserve that perfect crunch and fresh-baked flavor.
Pumpkin seeds are the whole seeds found inside a pumpkin, complete with their white outer shell. Pepitas are the green, shell-free seeds that come from specific types of pumpkinsโtheyโre naturally hull-less and have a slightly sweeter, nuttier flavor.
This recipe is gluten free, dairy free, vegan, and vegetarian.
Other Fall Favorite Recipes
If you make this pumpkin seed granola recipe, please let us know how it turns out in the comments below and/or rate the recipe! Donโt forget to tag us on Instagram to show us your finished productโit makes our day every time we see you trying the recipes we love!
Pumpkin Seed and Flax Granola
Ingredients
- 4 cups old-fashioned oats
- ยพ cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- ยผ cup whole flax seeds
- ยฝ cup avocado or olive oil
- ยฝ cup maple syrup
- ยผ cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (or swap for pumpkin pie spice)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- ยฝ teaspoon kosher salt
- ยฝ-3/4 cup craisins or dried cherries, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300ยฐF and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, pumpkin seeds, chopped pecans, and flax seeds. Stir to evenly distribute everything.
- In a separate bowl or glass measuring cup, whisk together the oil, maple syrup, brown or coconut sugar, cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice), vanilla, and salt until well combined. Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients and stir really well.
- Spread the granola mixture evenly onto your prepared baking sheet. Press it down gently with a spatula. Bake for 40โ45 minutes, stirring halfway through to prevent burning on the edges. Keep an eye on it during the last 5 minutes and remove the pan when the granola is golden brown. Let the granola cool completely on the pan without stirring.
- Once cooled, stir in the craisins or dried cherries if youโre using them. We prefer to store the granola in the freezer to keep it fresh and crisp.
Notes
- Save time/prep ahead:
- Measure out all the dry ingredients the night before so you can bake it first thing in the morning.
- Make a double batchโthis pumpkin flax granola recipe freezes beautifully and stays fresh longer.
- Let it cool completely before transferring to containers to maintain that crisp texture. We recommend storing it in the freezer in an airtight container for best results.
- This recipe is gluten free, dairy free, vegan, and vegetarian.
- The recipe can be found on My Fitness Pal by searching "BWB Pumpkin Seed Granola." The nutrition content provided for each recipe is an estimate created through the My Fitness Pal database. Please be aware that the nutritional content of each recipe may vary based on the products you use, the precision of your measurements, and the source you use to obtain nutrition data. While we try to provide accurate information, we give no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the nutritional information provided.
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