Pumpkin Spice Granola

Pumpkin spice is out of control. I walked down the cereal aisle the other day and just about every other product is pumpkin spice. And I couldn't be happier. It's just so cozy and comforting. It's the culinary equivalent to pulling on your favorite sweater for the first time of the year. In case you couldn't tell, Fall is my favorite. So, after a year of having plain old granola on my yogurt for breakfast, I decided to pumpkin spice up my regular recipe. This is what I came up with. Not only does it taste amazing, your house will be filled with the cozy scent of Fall.

Pumpkin Spice Granola

4 1/2 cups oats (I use quick oats)
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup maple syrup (use the good, real stuff)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon pumpkin spice mix (see below)

Pumpkin Spice Mix
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 275.

Heat pumpkin and syrup in microwave for 30 seconds. Add vanilla and pumpkin spice and whisk together. Pour over oats and spread out onto a parchment lined baking sheet. (I like to keep some bigger pieces in addition to the more crumbly pieces.) Bake for 20 minutes. Stir and bake for 15 minutes more. Let cool on baking sheet and transfer to an air tight container. Keeps approximately 2 weeks.

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