Pumpkin Granola

Crunchy, healthy-ish and perfect for yogurt, smoothies, or even ice cream; this granola has a ton of flavor. Don’t be intimidated by the long list of ingredients, most you will have around the house and the recipe is flexible to what you have in your cupboard.

Ingredients

5 C Rolled or Old Fashioned Oats

1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 tsp Cinnamon

1/4 tsp Nutmeg

1/4 tsp Ground Ginger

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 C Brown Sugar

3/4 C Pumpkin Puree

1/4 C Unsweetened Applesauce

1/4 C Maple Syrup

1 tsp Vanilla

1 Large Apple, chopped into small bits

3/4 C Dried Cranberries (cherry if you can get them)

1/2 C Nuts (sunflower seeds, pepitas, pecans or whatever you have on hand)

Method

1. Preheat oven 325 degrees and line a baking sheet with silicone mat or parchment (you may need 2)

2. In a large bowl, combine oats, spices and salt.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk sugar, pumpkin, applesauce, syrup and vanilla until smooth. Mix wet mixture into dry until the oats are evenly coated. They should be moist.

4. Spread evenly onto the baking sheet(s) and using your hands, squeeze together pieces to form small clumps. Sprinkle on chopped apple.

5. Bake for 20 minutes, shake, rotate pan, and bake for 25-30 more until golden and desired crunchiness. Remove from oven, cool, and toss in cranberries and seeds. Cool completely before storing. (up to 3 weeks)