Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. This initial step is crucial as it ensures your granola bakes evenly and achieves that perfect golden brown hue.
- In a large bowl, mix together the oats, pepitas, mixed nuts, roasted sunflower seeds, and pumpkin spice. You want to create a wholesome mixture where all the dry ingredients are well combined. The aroma at this stage is already inviting!
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil and honey. This mixture will help bind your granola together and add a beautiful sweetness.
- Pour the honey mixture over the oat mixture. Take your time here; you want to ensure every oat and seed is coated. Stir well to combine—this is where the magic begins!
- Spread out the mixture on two half sheet pans. I recommend lining each with parchment paper or silpat for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking. The more space you give it, the crunchier it will become!
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remember to stir every ten minutes. This ensures even baking and prevents burning while allowing the granola to develop that lovely golden color.
- Remove from the oven when it’s lightly toasted. Let it cool completely on the pans. As it cools, it will harden and clump beautifully.
- Once cooled, break up the granola and stir in the dried cranberries. This adds a sweet chewiness to the mix that you will absolutely love.
- Store your granola in an airtight container. It will last for up to a month if you can resist eating it all at once!
Notes
After granola is completely cooled, place in an airtight container or resealable bag. It will last for up to a month. Keep your oil and sweetener at a 50/50 ratio for the perfect topping in your granola. We used a honey and oil combination in this recipe. To get a nice clumpy granola, press the granola into an even layer before you place it in the oven. Stir it only once during the baking process and press it down after you pull it out of the oven before it cools. It’s tricky to tell when granola is done. Remember your granola won’t be dry right out of the oven. As it cools, it will dry, so it’s hard to tell when it’s done. When your granola is lightly toasted and smells like cooked honey, it’s ready to take out of the oven. Remember to add any dried fruit after you are done baking. If you add it before baking, it will burn.