Pumpkin Spice Granola

There are so many granola recipes out there. Hundreds, thousands, who knows how many? It drives me crazy! It's simple enough: flavor, clusters, and crunch! Seems like I can only find a really crunchy, clustery granola from a box in the cereal aisle. Most of the homemade granola recipes often deliver itty bitty oatmeal pieces, without those big clusters. What can I say? I LIKE BIG CLUSTERS, And I can not lie!" (That was for Bill). Well, phooey on you, grocery store granola! I have been through about ten on-line recipes with about a hundredish to go. Well, no longer! Granola-in-a-box, "thou are a dull and muddy-mettled rascal!" (trust me, it applies).

So, here is my piece de resistance (trust me, I have NO idea if that applies).  It isn't perfect, but it is getting closer. I will probably keep tweaking it until it gets a little more crunchy. Or I'm dead. Whichever comes first.

Hickok Notes: This recipe isn't for everyone. We happen to love pumpkin in this house. I use it often and really like it in my granola, since, combined with the applesauce, it completely removes the need for any oil. Also, most granola recipes call for brown sugar, which I haven't bought in five years or so. I just make my own with some of my organic evaporated cane juice and molasses (1-2 Tbs. per cup of sugar, depending on how dark you like your brown sugar. You can do this for any recipe that calls for brown sugar). 

Lydia's Super Duper Oodle-Licious Pumpkin Flax Granola 
(too much?)

5 cups thick cut oats

1/2 cup shredded unsweeted coconut

1/2 cup ground flax seed

1/2 tsp. fresh ground nutmeg

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. all spice

1 tsp. sea salt
3/4 cup pumpkin puree

1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla

1Tbs. molasses
3/4 cup evaporated cane juice (or sugar)

1/3 cup applesauce

My mix-ins this time: Raisins, Dates, Walnuts

Preheat oven to 325. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper (or grease the sheet). 

Mix oats, coconut, flax, spices, and salt in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, mix pumpkin, maple syrup, vanilla, molasses, sugar, and applesauce.
Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir around for a bit until it is equally coated.
Pour the yummies out onto prepared baking sheet.
Bake at 325 for 20 minutes.
Take out granola and stir it up a bit.
Put it back in for another 15-20 minutes.
Add your favorite combination of dried fruit, nuts, and seeds.
Let cool on the baking sheet for about 20 minutes to crisp up (be sure to snag a few nibbles every minute or so to check on the progress of the crisping).