Homemade Pumpkin Maple Granola

The next stop on my homemade food tour is granola.  I love granola poured over my Homemade Yogurt drizzled with raw honey, mixed into my morning oatmeal, or just served with milk and fresh fruit.  I have slowly been going through my pantry trying to figure out all of the products I can stop buying at the store and granola was the next obvious choice.  I am actually embarrassed that I have been buying granola!  This was so easy to make and so customizable to your individual tastes, that the idea of going back to the store brand is not an option.  The granola I had been buying was always a little to sweet for me and also expensive.  I stock all of these ingredients in my bulk pantry so whipping up a batch of this is easy and inexpensive.  Mix in dried fruits or dark chocolate chips once the granola has cooled for a quick trail mix.  Enjoy!

Homemade Pumpkin Maple Granola

Ingredients
3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup almonds, chopped
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 pinch sea salt
1/3 cup olive oil
1/2 cup real maple syrup
1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice 
2 tsp. vanilla

Directions
Preheat oven to 300degrees F.

Combine oats, seeds, almonds, flour, cinnamon and salt; mix well.

In a separate bowl, combine oil, syrup, juice and extracts.

Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and combine

Spread on a cookie sheet or in a shallow pan and bake.

Turn granola every 15 or 20 minutes so that it toasts evenly.

Bake until granola is dry and golden (45-60 minutes).

Store in an air tight jar (I like 1/2 gallon mason jars)

This recipe will fill a 1/2 gallon mason jar, but the boys literally attacked the granola before I could get pictures taken.  A day later and it is almost gone!  Good thing this recipe can be easily doubled.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.