Pumpkin Harvest Granola

Today, I have a recipe to share.
I figured it was worth sharing because my husband loves it, and he is not usually the granola-eating type. 
It also has a nice autumn flavor, thanks to the pumpkin pie spice.  
If you've never made your own granola before, you should really try.  It is SO easy, and so much less expensive than buying it.  And you don't have to be a hippie, either.  (No offense whatsoever to hippies.  I'm sure they make better granola than I do).
So, here we go:


Ingredients:
4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup roasted, shelled pumpkin seeds (also called pepitas, optional)
2 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice*
1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 Tablespoons honey
1/3 cup vegetable or canola oil
1/2 cup canned pumpkin**
1 cup dried cranberries


*1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice is equal to:
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg.
I've used this mixture for years, and finally this month I bought regular old pre-mixed pumpkin pie spice.  Which is so much easier.  However, it's nice to know that I could survive without it too.


**You could also use cooked, pureed pumpkin as well.  It's all the same.

Stir the dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.  Oats, almonds, pumpkin seeds, spice, and coconut - all of those.  In a small bowl, stir the brown sugar, pumpkin, and oil together.  Then add the pumpkin mixture into the oat mixture and stir well.  Drizzle the honey over the top of the mixture and stir again.  
Don't put the cranberries in yet.  I've done this before, and I do not recommend it.  They are already chewy enough without being baked for an extra hour. 
Spread the granola onto a large cookie sheet (with sides!) sprayed with Pam.  Bake at 300 degrees for 50-60 minutes.  Check after 30 or 40 minutes and stir, then cook for the remaining time.
After removing from the oven, let the granola cool before placing it in a gallon-sized resealable bag.  Then add the cranberries, shake up the bag, and there you go.  Your own super-healthy, super-yummy granola!