GRAIN FREE PUMPKIN PIE GRANOLA

I have to warn you before you make this — you might regret it. Not because it’s bad. No, the opposite. Because it’s so good that you won’t be able to stop eating it. You’ll try, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll fill a small bowl, close up the container, and then when it’s gone, find yourself mindlessly refilling your bowl again and again. Next thing you know, it’s gone, and you’re left wondering what has happened to your life.

Let’s talk about granola for a minute. It’s usually made of oats, lots of sugar, with some nuts and dried fruit thrown in. It’s often thought of as a health food, but unless you comb through ingredients lists or make it yourself, chances are you’re getting something that is about as nutritious as an oatmeal raisin cookie.

This version skips the oats and refined sugar, and is instead packed full of nuts, seeds, and spices, and sweetened with honey. It gets its fall-inspired flavor from Ava Jane’s Kitchen’s Pumpkin Pie Spice, and it could not be better. It’s crunchy, sweet, and salty, and breaks into crunchy, caramelized pieces that are perfect for sprinkling over yogurt, adding to a salad, or eating as is. For a finer, more granola like texture, you can put the granola in a freezer bag and smash a bit with a rolling pin or pulse in food processor until you reach the desired texture.

Before you dive into this, the ingredients you choose are important. You can use any combo of nuts that you like, but make sure they are raw and unsalted since you are roasting and seasoning them yourself. One of the good things I like about making my own granola is that I can customize it with whatever I like or have, so don’t be afraid to do that here.