Runner's Fuel: Homemade Pumpkin Apple Granola

Things I love about fall: hiking, leaves, cooler temps for running, and FOOD!  One staple in my diet over the past few years has been my homemade granola.  I have tweaked it here and there until I found my favorite combo: pumpkin and apple.  

I have also made it REAL FOOD.  No processed sugars or oils, just good, clean food.

Here's the recipe:

4 TBSP butter

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup applesause

1/2 cup honey

1/2 TBSP cinnamon

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/4 tsp ground allspice

7 cups of old fashioned oats

4 TBSP ground flaxseed

1 cup of your choice: seeds/nuts/dried fruit

Heat over to 325 degrees.

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium/low heat.  Once the butter is melted, add the pumpkin, applesauce, honey, and spices.  Stir together.  

While letting the saucepan mixture heat up, combine oats, flaxseed, and your seeds/nuts/dried fruit.  I usually use raw pumpkin and sunflower seeds, as my son has a peanut allergy.  You can really use any combo of your favorite add in!

Once the saucepan mixture is heated (but before it starts to bubble!), add it to the oats mixture.  I usually create a little well in the oats and pour the saucepan contents into that.  (Doesn't look to appetizing here, does it??)

Then stir together.  It will take a minute or two to get it all combined.   When it is all mixed together, it should look like this:

Grease two baking trays with olive oil, then spread the mixture evenly between the two trays.

Bake for 7 minutes at 325.  Then gently stir the granola around like this:

And then bake for another 7 or 8 minutes.

Once the timer goes off, I usually turn off the oven and let it sit for up to an hour or two to get nice and crunchy.   Once it cools, transfer to air-tight containers.  I usually freeze half of it, and keep the other half in a container on the counter.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I do - it is great fuel for running!

So there is my favorite granola recipe that I have tweaked over the past few years to make perfect.  It is awesome as cereal, in yogurt, or just a handful at a time for a little snack.  Enjoy this beautiful fall weather!

Laura's PUMPKIN APPLE GRANOLA - Great Clean Fuel for Runners

Ingredients: 

4 TBSP butter

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup applesauce

1/2 cup honey

1/2 TBSP cinnamon

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/4 tsp ground allspice

7 cups of old fashioned oats

4 TBSP ground flaxseed

1 cup of your choice: seeds/nuts/dried fruit

Heat over to 325 degrees.

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium/low heat.  Once the butter is melted, add the pumpkin, applesauce, honey, and spices.  Stir together.  

While letting the saucepan mixture heat up, combine oats, flaxseed, and your seeds/nuts/dried fruit.  

Once the saucepan mixture is heated (but before it starts to bubble!), add it to the oats mixture.  I usually create a little well in the oats and pour the saucepan contents into that.  

Then stir together.  It will take a minute or two to get it all combined.  

Grease two baking trays with olive oil, then spread the mixture evenly between the two trays.

Bake for 7 minutes at 325.  Then gently stir the granola around a little, then bake for another 7 or 8 minutes.

Once the timer goes off, I usually turn off the oven and let it sit for up to an hour or two to get nice and crunchy.   Once it cools, transfer to air-tight containers.  I usually freeze half of it, and keep the other half in a container on the counter.

A shot from our hike today :)