• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Family Food on the Table
  • Recipe Index
  • Main Dishes
  • Baby Food
  • Subscribe
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Main Dishes
  • Baby Food
  • Subscribe
  • About
×
Home » Recipes » Breakfast & Brunch

Cranberry White Chocolate Granola

By: Kathryn Doherty | Last Updated: Mar 5, 2025 | Published: Oct 26, 2017
This post may contain affiliate links. See my 
disclosure policy.

Jump to Recipe
Pin

Cranberry white chocolate granola is an easy, delicious, and festive baked granola that’s perfect for healthy holiday breakfasts and snacking!Close up of a glass jar full of homemade granola with dried cranberries and white chocolate chips.

Hiya friends!

This nasty cold has been keeping its claws in me but I'm on the upswing and it's a good thing because I'm headed to Nashville today with some of my girl friends!

None of us have been and we are going to explore the town, eat all the food, find all the yummy drinks, soak up the culture and listen to some amazing music.

And Friday is my birthday so we'll celebrate that while we're there!

It's a little strange to be away from my family on my birthday, but these girls are pretty much like family to me, so I'm going to be in good hands.

But I gotta finish packing before they come pick me up for the airport, so I'm keeping it short today.

Today’s recipe is one of my favorites for holiday breakfasts, brunches and just snacking!

Cranberry white chocolate granola is beautiful, festive and crazy addictive!

A plate full of homemade granola with dried cranberries and white chocolate chips.

I think it’s the balance of salty and sweet and the desire to just keep getting more crunchy bites with those tart dried cranberries and melty white chocolate chips.

Again and again and again!

I’ve had this out at parties and the entire batch gets demolished - people just keep coming back for more!

This granola is full of oats and nuts, is naturally sweetened with maple syrup and is lightened up with just a tiny bit of oil. (I use applesauce to help get everything well coated without going overboard on the calorie front. )

It’s baked until golden brown and then the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips are added for sweetness and a pretty holiday flare! ❤️

Cranberry white chocolate granola in glass jars with extra granola and red napkin scattered

The white chocolate chips also get slightly melted against the warm granola, which helps coat all the bites even after it’s cooled.

Seriously delicious!

Notes on cranberry white chocolate granola:

  • I use ½ cup of chopped pecans for this recipe. You can substitute walnuts if you’d rather. And if you like a really nutty granola, feel free to increase it to ¾ cup or a full cup.
  • I use applesauce here to cut down on how much oil is in the recipe - keeps it lightened up. It tastes plenty rich and hearty to me (and isn’t so crazy caloric), but feel free to adjust the amount of oil and applesauce to suit your tastes.
  • I love using maple syrup here. It’s got a more complex flavor and pairs well with the flavors, but you can substitute honey if that’s all you have.
  • The white chocolate chips make this extra pretty and festive I think, but you could use regular chocolate chips if that’s all you have.

A glass jar full of homemade granola with dried cranberries and white chocolate chips.

I hope your upcoming holidays are full of friends and family and of course, good eats!

And if you love granola like we do, check out my chocolate pumpkin granola, 5-ingredient homemade granola (with peanut butter!) and my healthy citrus granola.

And all of us also should check out these homemade granola bars, chocolate chip granola bars and blueberry granola crunch muffins from my blogging friends.

Enjoy!

XO,

Kathryn

P.S. This granola would also make an awesome gift for family, friends, neighbors and teachers this holiday season!

A plate full of homemade granola with dried cranberries and white chocolate chips.
PRINT PIN SaveSaved!
No ratings yet

Cranberry White Chocolate Granola

Cranberry white chocolate granola is an easy, delicious, and festive granola that’s perfect for the holidays!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time25 minutes mins
Total Time35 minutes mins
Yield: 3.5 cups

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups oats (I use old fashioned)
  • ½ cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ⅓ cup maple syrup
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil (or melted butter or coconut oil)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • ½ cup white chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine oats, pecans, cinnamon and salt and mix well.
  • In a separate small bowl, mix together the maple syrup, applesauce, oil and vanilla until well combined.
  • Add the wet ingredients to the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir until all of the dry ingredients are well coated.
  • Transfer the mixture to the parchment-lined baking sheet and spread into an even layer.
  • Bake at 325 for 15 minutes, then remove and stir and flip granola over so it bakes evenly. Return to the oven and bake for another 5-10 minutes, until golden brown.
  • Remove and add cranberries and white chocolate chips to the top of the granola. (This helps get the white chocolate a little softened and melted.)
  • Let cool completely then store in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

If you like a really nutty granola, feel free to increase the pecans or walnuts to ¾ cup or a full cup.
I use applesauce here to cut down on how much oil is in the recipe - it keeps it lightened up. But feel free to adjust the amount of oil and applesauce to suit your tastes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4 cup | Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 83mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or follow me on Instagram @familyfoodonthetable and tag me in your photo!

A glass jar full of homemade granola with dried cranberries and white chocolate chips with more jars and extra granola scattered nearby.

Pin

More Breakfast & Brunch

  • Close up of wedges of breakfast quesadillas served on a dark plate with guacamole and sour cream on top and chipped fresh chives sprinkled around.
    Breakfast Quesadillas
  • Close up of a small spatula lifting out a piece of sausage grits casserole from a baking dish.
    Grits and Sausage Casserole
  • Close up of a stack of cornbread waffles served with a pat of butter on top.
    Cornbread Waffles
  • Close up of powdered sugar being sprinkled onto French toast sticks arranged and stacked on a plate with fresh fruit scattered around.
    Air Fryer French Toast Sticks

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dawn - Girl Heart Food

    October 26, 2017 at 8:22 am

    First of all, feel better soon! And, secondly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! So exciting that you have a fun trip planned with your girlfriends! I'm sure you guys will have an absolute blast.
    I love granola and I would much rather make homemade than buy store bought any day. This combination sounds lovely and the idea of gifting during the holidays is perfect. I often make homemade foodie baskets for family and I know they would love to have a bag of this included 🙂 Cheers to an extra special weekend, my friend. XOXO

    Reply
    • Kathryn

      October 27, 2017 at 9:36 am

      Thanks so much my friend! We are having a blast in Nashville. (And YES YES YES to homemade granola! And P.S. You have some lucky family - those baskets sound awesome!)

      Reply
  2. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary

    October 26, 2017 at 8:33 am

    EEEEE! Happy early birthday, girlfriend!!!! I hope you have a day as fabulous as you! And I really hope you are feeling 100% by tomorrow! Nashville, huh?! My husband and I keep talking about going there because we've never been and I didn't realize it is so close by! You will have to give me ALL the deets after your trip! I hope you have a blast! Anyways, this granola! YAAAASS! I'm pretty sure you know I'm SO into this, because WHITE CHOCOLATE! Seriously, this looks dangerously delicious... like, I wanna eat this for ALL my meals! 😉 Cheers!

    Reply
    • Kathryn

      October 27, 2017 at 9:37 am

      Thanks so much my friend! Nashville is SO much fun and we still have the whole weekend ahead of us - you definitely need to come here! And I definitely had you in mind with this white chocolate here 😉 XO

      Reply
  3. Luci's Morsels

    October 26, 2017 at 10:18 pm

    Love the flavors in this recipe! Cranberry and white chocolate is such a classic combination that takes advantage of the sweet chocolate and tart berries, a perfect fall or winter snack!

    Reply
    • Kathryn

      October 27, 2017 at 9:37 am

      Absolutely - they go so well together!

      Reply
  4. Amy Richards

    November 17, 2017 at 8:33 pm

    How long does this stay fresh ? Thanks !

    Reply
    • Kathryn

      November 18, 2017 at 12:58 pm

      Hi Amy! Ours never lasts past a week but it should stay fresh (if stored in a covered container in the pantry) for up to 2 weeks. I hope that helps!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Meet Kathryn

Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a cookbook author, mom of two, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes to help you get delicious food on the table for your family!

More about me →

Popular Recipes

  • A cream cheese chicken and mushroom mixture in a large pan with a wooden spoon resting in it.
    Easy Cream Cheese Chicken
  • Close up of honey garlic chicken served in a blue and white bowl with sliced green onions on top.
    Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
  • Close up of a whole roasted chicken on a large white serving platter with veggies and fresh parsley to the side.
    Easy Whole Roasted Chicken
  • Close up of a fork resting in a bowl of rice and curried ground turkey with peas.
    Curry Ground Turkey with Rice and Peas
  • Close up of a wooden spoon drizzling pan gravy over seared pork chops.
    Easy Skillet Pork Chops with Gravy
  • Close up of a dark skillet with a saucy honey garlic chicken dish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions sprinkled on top.
    15-Minute Honey Garlic Chicken

Footer

↑back to top

About

  • Contact
  • Work With Me

Newsletter

  • Sign up for emails!

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright
  • Accessibility

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Family Food on the Table

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required