Pumpkin Pecan Granola

Recipe and Photo from 5 Dollar Dinners 

Ingredients:

Ingredients

1/3 cup applesauce

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

3 tablespoons maple syrup

1/2 tsp almond or vanilla extract

4 cups oats (I use old-fashioned oats)

1/4 cup brown sugar

¼ cup flaxseed (optional)

1 tsp each of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger

1 cup pecans, chopped (can substitute walnuts)

1 cup raisins (optional)

Directions:

Preheat to 300.  In a small mixing bowl, combine the applesauce, pumpkin puree, maple syrup and extract.  In larger mixing bowl, toss together the oats, brown sugar, flaxseed, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.  Spoon the pumpkin mixture into the oats mixture and combine until all the oats are covered in the pumpkin mixture.

Spread onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, then gently toss and mix in the pecans and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes.  Stir in the raisins or other dried fruit after it has cooled some on a cooling rack. Store in an airtight container for up to one month. 

Grocery Item	Weekly Sale at Cub Foods (9/29/12-10/6/12)
Pumpkin	Essential Everyday canned pumpkin (15 oz.) on sale for $1.29
Oats	Quaker old-fashioned and quick oats (18 oz.) on sale 2 for $4.00
Walnuts	Everyday Essentials Baking Walnuts (16 oz.) on sale for $6.49