Pumpkin Pie Granola

Wonderful granola & oil free. Tastes so good I'll eat it year round & not just in Fall.

Pumpkin Pie Granola  (adapted from twopeasintheirpod.com)

• 5 cups rolled oats
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• ¾ tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• ¼ cup applesauce
• ¼ cup real maple syrup (this adds great flavor, but if you don't have it you can probably sub honey or agave with a little molasses)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
   
• Additional add-ins if desired: 3/4 cup dried cranberries, 1/2 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

Preheat the oven to 325° F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or non-stick foil and set aside.  In a large bowl, combine oats, spices, and salt. Mix well.

In a medium bowl, whisk together brown sugar, pumpkin puree, applesauce, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth. Pour wet ingredients into oat mixture and stir until the oats are evenly coated. They will be moist. Evenly spread the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 20 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and stir. Bake for an additional 20 minutes. If the granola isn't quite crisp yet, stir & return to the oven for an additional 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and stir in dried cranberries and pepitas if using (I didn't). Let cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Goes AMAZING on yogurt, mixed into cereal, with milk/soy milk, ice cream, or to top baked apples!