Pumpkin Granola Recipe – makes about 1 gallon (16 cups)
This Pumpkin Granola Is So Good, So Inexpensive And SO EASY To Make!! #TexasHomesteader
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 8 cups oats I mix quick and old fashioned for various textures, you can use whichever you prefer
- 1 cup honey (12 ounces)
- 1 cup molasses or 3/4 cup brown sugar as substitute
- 3/4 cup melted coconut oil (5.5 ounces) or 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cups assorted chopped nuts and seeds I like pecans & sunflower seeds
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 2 cups pureed pumpkin Note: NOT pumpkin pie filling
- 2 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 3 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice, or see below to make your own
- MYO spice = 1.5 T. cinnamon, 1 t. ground ginger, 1/2 t. ground allspice or cloves, 1/2 t. ground nutmeg
- 2-3 cups raisins or other dried fruit Note: add these after baking or they’ll burn
Instructions
Directions:
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Pour melted coconut oil into large bowl and add 1 cup of honey, 1 cup of molasses, 2 Tbl. vanilla and 2 cups pureed pumpkin. Stir until fully blended.
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In separate large bowl, mix 8 cups oats, 2 cups nuts, 1 cup shredded coconut and 3 Tbl. pumpkin pie spice (or see above for MYO spice mixture) - do not add dried fruit yet. Finally, add wet ingredients to dry mixture and stir until all is fully coated.
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Lay moistened ingredients about 1/2 inch thick on two cookie sheets (with sides to contain the granola)
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Bake at 325 F for 60 minutes, or until golden brown in color. You’ll need to stir the granola once every 20 minutes or so for even drying and to break up any large clumps to assure they dry out enough for longer storage.
(UPDATE: my oven's fan-assisted speed-bake means I only bake for 40 minutes, stirring twice!)
After baking time if you want a crunchier granola turn the oven off and let the granola continue to dry out in the residual heat of the oven for about 30 minutes before removing. When granola is cooled, mix in 2-3 cups raisins, stir & store in airtight container.
Recipe Notes
NOTE: This recipe is very adaptable, I've substituted part or even all of the pumpkin for applesauce with good results.
I don't always add coconut and often add different than the noted measures for dried fruit or nuts - it all depends on what I have in the pantry needing to be used.
I do always add several handfuls of raw old-fashioned style oats into the first stirring out of the oven, it cuts some of the sweetness in the granola which I like and it also stretches the volume.