Pumpkin Spice Granola

I figure it's about time that I start living up to my name. If I'm going to call my self hippie hippie bakes then I should probably share some hippie food. Granola is the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of hippie food. Lentils are a close second though. Quinoa is probably third. Granola is actually one of my comfort foods at school. My mom will make a batch for me on a weekend when I come home and I'll take it back with me and snack on it all week. Its nice to have something that I eat all the time at home at school with me. When I got home from school I started looking for some granola recipes to make on my own. When I stumbled across this recipe from Healthy food for Living I was so excited. I have an obsession with pumpkin spice. Everything from coffee to baked goods. If it is pumpkin spice flavored I'm in. So this was perfect.

Pumpkin Spice Granola

3 cups rolled oats
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
2 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce
2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup chopped nuts and/or seeds
1/2 cup dried fruit

Preheat oven to 325*F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Measure the oats into a large bowl and put aside.
In another bowl, whisk the pumpkin pie spice, salt, brown sugar, pumpkin puree, applesauce, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.
Pour wet ingredients over oats and stir until thoroughly combined. Spread in an even layer over the prepared cookie sheet.
Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, stir the nuts & seeds into the granola, and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the granola is golden brown and crisp.
Remove granola from the oven, toss with dried fruit, and cool completely. Store in an airtight container.