Pumpkin Spice Granola

Pumpkin Spice Granola

This my new favorite granola. It's the EASIEST granola yet and I LOVE it on Oikos brand yogurt... especially Banana and Apple Pie flavored. 

Ingredients:

7 cups old fashioned oats (not instant or quick oats)

1/2 cup ground flax, optional 

1/2 cup brown sugar, loosely packed

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

3/4 to 1 cup raw almonds, coarsely chopped

3/4 cup pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds)

Pinch of salt

1/2 cup maple syrup, the real stuff

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup canned pumpkin purée

2 teaspoons vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a large cookie tray (17" x 11" x 1") with parchment paper. 

In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients (the first 9 ingredients: the oats through the salt).

In a small microwave safe bowl, combine the syrup, pumpkin, and veg. oil.  Heat in the microwave for 30 to 45 seconds on HIGH power. Add in the vanilla; stir well to combine. 

Add the syrup mixture to the oat mixture and stir well with a big spoon to coat the dry ingredients. Poor the coated oats into the lined cookie tray. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. DO NOT open the oven. Turn oven OFF and leave the granola in the warm oven over night to continue toasting all night long. 

Alternatively, you can do what I did today:  make the granola in the morning, bake for 10 minutes and then let it sit in the oven all day long. 

Store the granola in air tight containers or plastic zip closure bag. 

Granola makes a great gift!

Adapted from www.sweetpeasandpumpkins.com