APPLE SPICE GRANOLA

Vegan version? Skip the honey and use extra maple syrup or agave syrup and serve with nut milk yogurt +/or fruit. Can't do nuts? Use extra fruit in its place. This is fairly low in calories for granola, but use less dried fruit if that is an issue. Adapted from my THANKSGIVING GRANOLA recipe, which was adapted from a David Lebovitz recipe, which was adapted from a Nigella Lawson recipe! Makes a tasty fall gift bagged in cellophane and tied with raffia.

Makes about 2 quarts granola

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup each: real maple syrup and honey
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups rolled or old fashioned oats
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons each: ground cinnamon and ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon each: ground cayenne and ground allspice
1 cup chopped, unsalted nuts such as walnuts or pecans
1 cup dried apples, chopped: added after baking
1/4 cup each: dried cranberries and raisins, optional: added after baking

Instructions

PREPARATION: Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Place rack at center. Grease (or line w/ parchment or foil) two half-sheet, rimmed pans. Set aside.
MIX AND HEAT LIQUIDS: In a small saucepan, heat over low flame the applesauce, syrups and olive oil until warm; stir well. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla extract.
STIR TOGETHER DRY INGREDIENTS/ADD LIQUID INGREDIENTS : Meanwhile, in a large bowl, stir together the oats, salt, spices, and nuts. Pour the warm applesauce mixture over all and stir well for a minute or two until really well combined.
DIVIDE GRANOLA BETWEEN TWO GREASED, RIMMED BAKING PANS and spread evenly.
BAKE 45-55 MINUTES or until crispy as you like, rotating pans and stirring granola half-way through baking.
REMOVE FROM OVEN, sprinkle with dried apples and cranberries and raisins (if using), stir gently, and let cool completely before storing.
Storage: Place totally cooled granola in a large glass or plastic container with a good seal. Do not store in plastic bags unless for just a day or so or for gifts; they don’t keep the granola well. Will keep a month or more on the counter and even longer in the refrigerator or freezer.

Notes

Cook’s Notes: My granola recipe is adaptable and quite forgiving. It can be made without several of the ingredients listed, though it won’t “make and bake” without the liquids –apple sauce, oil, syrups (though you might try different proportions) and the oats. Change out or skip spices, nuts, fruit, flaxseed, etc., to create the right mix for your kitchen.