Granola

I started making granola.
Our family loves granola. I used to buy whatever was on sale, but after meeting Lisa at Kitchen G.A.L. and trying her Epic granola--I learned what great granola could taste like. 

I stumbled across a recipe for Pumpkin Pie granola. My husband and kids raved. Next, I tried Gingerbread granola. Again, raves. I made my own modifications to the recipes. More raves. No one wants store bought anymore. 

Try these. Please.

Pumpkin Pie Granola

• 4 cups gluten-free rolled oats
• 1 cup pecans chopped
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce (I used apple butter)
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons flax meal
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Directions 

Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
Line your baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together gluten-free oats, chopped pecans, and flax meal until well combined.
In a small sauce pan heat brown sugar, pumpkin puree, applesauce, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and vanilla extract. Bring to a boil, simmer until sugar is melted.
Add wet mixture to the dry ingredients and with a spatula, mix until everything is coated.
Spread the granola mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Carefully remove and mix for even baking. Repeat twice (for a total of 1 hour of baking) or until the granola looks nice and golden.
Remove from the oven and let cool before stirring in the dried cranberries, if you chose or add in before serving.
Store in an airtight container.

Blueberry-Pecan Gingerbread Granola

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/8 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• Pinch salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 4.5 cups uncooked oatmeal
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup pecans, roughly chopped
• 3 tablespoons flax meal
• 1/2 c of dried blueberries

Directions

Preheat oven to 275.
In a medium sauce pan, combine first 8 ingredients. Bring to a boil.
In a large bowl mix oatmeal, coconut, nuts and flax meal.
Pour boiled molasses mixture over oatmeal mixture.
Stir well. Add to a cookie sheet.
Bake for one hour total time, but checking and stirring granola every 15 minutes.
Granola will turn a rich color. Remove from oven and cool.
Remove from the oven and let cool before stirring in the dried cranberries, if you chose or add in before serving.
Store in airtight container. Good for 2 months. (Let's be honest though, it will be amazing if you have any left after 2 days.)