Pumpkin Granola

I know this seems more like a recipe I should post in the fall, but that's a long time from now and I really want to share this!! I just made it for the first time today and it was SO good! I hope you'll give it a try and enjoy it as well!

 

                               Photo Credit: Elizabeth Ours

 

5 cups rolled oats

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

3/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1/4 cup canola oil

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup dried cranberries or raisins, optional

1/2 cup pepitas (toasted pumpkin seeds), optional

 

In a large bowl, combine oats, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Set aside.

In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, pumpkin, oil, maple syrup and vanilla; whisk until smooth.

Pour pumpkin mixture over the oats and mix until well coated - this will be very moist.

Spread onto a well greased baking pan (jelly-roll pan works best). Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes. Stir. Bake an additional 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Remove from the oven and stir in the cranberries and pumpkin seeds. Let sit until completely cool (stirring every now and then will keep it from cooling into one large clump and help it cool down faster).

Store in an airtight container!

 

Note:

-You can also substitute any kind of chopped nut for the pumpkin seeds, but I hope you give them a try! They are so healthy for you and taste really good with this.

-Add nuts as well if you want!

-Serve this in a bowl with milk or try sprinkling it on top plain yogurt!