SPICED PUMPKIN AND BROWN SUGAR GRANOLA

I recently had friends over for brunch and made this wonderful granola for them to take home as a party favor. I have tried making granola many times before, but never with much success. However, this recipe was very easy to follow and turned out beautifully. The fabulous combination of flavors would make a delicious gift for friends or family, or just a great gift to yourself. I packaged mine in clear plastic gift bags, tied with raffia ribbon and with labels I found at the incredible local store Shindig Paperie  shindigpaperie.com/ - delightful!

SPICED PUMPKIN AND BROWN SUGAR GRANOLA

3/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup roughly chopped pecans
1 cup pistachios
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup dried cranberries

Heat oven to 325F.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside.
Whisk together pumpkin, sugar, oil, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, cardamom and salt. Add oats, pecans, pistachios and toss to coat. Spread evenly on prepared baking sheet and bake 30 minutes, stirring half way through. Stir in raisins and cranberries and continue baking until oats are just crisp, about 15 minutes more. Stir one last time, then set aside to cool completely. When hard, break into chunks and store in an airtight container.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from O Magazine, December 2010
www.oprah.com/food/Spiced-Pumpkin-and-Brown-Sugar-Granola