Pumpkin Granola
This season we’ve been consuming pumpkin in a variety of ways that don’t just include pumpkin pie. To be honest, I’m not much of a fan, and neither is one of my kids. So if 50% of our family isn’t into it, it doesn’t seem worth the hassle. Plus, I think there are enough sweet treats being passed around these days that we’re okay without the pie.
But we do love other pumpkin flavoured foods, so I’ve been adding the pureed gourd to plenty of dishes whenever I have the chance. Did you know that half a cup of pumpkin only contains 42 calories and is the equivalent to a full serving of vegetables? Not only that, but it also provides 14% of your daily quota for fibre. Basically, it’s too good to pass up, and the kids love it.
I started incorporating pumpkin into our mornings last year when I came up with these pumpkin and quinoa muffins. Vegetables and quinoa for breakfast? Yes, please! It was such a hit with the kids that I wanted to create another pumpkin-based breakfast, and granola fit the healthy bill perfectly. This version uses no refined sugars, and calls for the add-ins to be incorporated after the cooking. The people in my house can never agree on how they like their granola so we start with a bare bones version and customize it just before eating.
Pumpkin Granola Recipe:
You’ll Need
- 4 cups rolled oats (not quick cooking)
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¾ cup pumpkin puree
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup canola oil
- 1 tsp vanilla
Prep and Cook
- Preheat the oven to 325°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, salt and cinnamon. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, maple syrup, honey, oil and vanilla. Add to the oat mixture and toss to combine well.
- Spread the oats in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake for 35–40 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Allow the granola to cool on the counter, then store in a lidded container.
- Before serving, feel free to mix in any combination of nuts, seeds, coconut or dried fruit.
