Apple Pie Granola

Tags

apples, gluten-free, granola, snack, vegan

This was supposed to be an apple pie. And if I was feeling a little more ambitious, I might have made one. You see, ever since we pressed apples for cider at my parent’s house, I’ve had it on my mind. I’ve been craving the kind of pie that my dad taught me to make as a girl – simple and straightforward, with apples right from our orchard.

But quick and easy has been the theme at our house lately. Making pie crust and peeling a dozen or so apples just wasn’t going to happen. I had the idea for an apple pie granola and it gave me exactly what I was looking for: a quick and easy way to satisfy my apple pie craving while making our house smell amazing. Oh, and it’s probably about a hundred times healthier than apple pie, so that’s nice too!

Apple Pie Granola
{gluten-free, vegan}

Makes about one quart

2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
2 heaping tablespoons of brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons maple syrup
1/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1 teaspoon vanilla

2/3 cup dried apples

Preheat oven to 300F.

In a large mixing bowl, mix together the dry ingredients except for the dried apples. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients.

Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir well. Spread onto a pan lined with parchment paper or a silpat and bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven every 10 minutes and give the granola a good stir to ensure even baking.

Let cool completely before adding the dried apples. Store in an airtight container.