Pumpkin Granola

I had half of a can of pumpkin left over from my previous pumpkin endeavor (pumpkin oatmeal cookies) that needed to be used. I had recently made peanut butter cookies, and was not wanting to make something with lots of butter. I did a search and came across this recipe. Due to it looking so yummy and being low in fat (no oil unlike many granola recipes....who knew granola had oil??), I decided to try it. YUM! So easy and so delicious!

Pumpkin Granola (adapted from Two Peas and Their Pod blog)

5 cups rolled oats
1 cup pecans (optional)
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup pumpkin puree (I used Libby canned pumpkin....NOT pumpkin pie mix)
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
Mix ins (optional)- dried cranberries, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, use your imagination

1. Preheat oven 325F
2. Cover baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.
3. In large bowl, combine oats, pecans, spices, and salt. Stir well to combine.
4. In medium bowl, combine brown sugar, pumpkin, applesauce, maple syrup, vanilla. Whisk to combine.
5. Add wet ingredients to oat mixture and stir well until coated. Put mixture on prepared baking sheet and spread out. Bake at 325F for 20 minutes, then stir and bake 15 minutes longer (or until browned).
6. When finished baking, add in mix-ins.