Crunch Time

In need of something completely comforting and satisfying to your sweet or savory tooth?
Granola has, in recent years, gotten a bad reputation for being high in sugar and calories... but that's just if you eat the store bought version. You can make your own (which is much cheaper) healthy, delicious version.

Making your own granola also allows you the freedom to experiment with flavors and combinations of ingredients. So give it a whirl! Here is a yummy accompaniment to your Autumn morning line-up.

Pumpkin Spice Granola

Ingredients:

1 cup rolled oats

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice 

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/6 cup granulated sugar or brown sugar

pinch of salt

1/4 cup Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin

1/8 cup organic, unsweetened apple sauce

1/6 cup maple syrup

1 tsp honey

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/6 cup chopped pecans

1/6 cup chopped almonds

1/3 cup dried cranberries

1/3 cup raisins

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

In large mixing bowl, combine the first 3 ingredients. 

In a smaller mixing bowl, combine the sugar, salt, pumpkin, apple sauce, maple syrup, honey, and vanilla until smooth. Pour over the dry ingredients and stir until oats are evenly coated. **Male sure that you do not over stir and separate the clumps. Stir until the wet ingredients are distributed throughout the oat mixture, but maintain plenty of large clumps.**

Next, add in the chopped pecans and almonds, and fold into the mixture (only stir about 10 times).

Transfer the mixture to your prepared baking sheet, spread out evenly with a spoon or spatula, and bake in the oven for :

• 20 minutes - remove and gently stir with spoon to turn the sides, preventing burning.
• Place back in the oven and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes...

... or until the granola is a rich honey, golden brown.

Remove from the oven and let cool completely.

Transfer to a storage container 1/4 cup at a time, adding in the dried cranberries and raisins in between each scoop of granola. Gently turn the container to allow the dried fruit to mix in with the granola.

Enjoy this treat with milk, on top of yogurt, as a garnish on top of Pumpkin Pie Frozen Yogurt, or just as a handy little snack!