Healthy Applesauce Granola

Oats aren't just for breakfast anymore- it's a snack, it's a dessert topper, a pie crust bottom, can leap tall buildings in a single bound.

But even with this versatility- why ignore one of it's best uses- Granola! I've made up a fabulous Pumpkin Granola and a Sweet Brown Sugar Granola, so clearly I like oatmeal. This particular granola is a simple and yet a healthy granola. The recipes are all similar, but little variations make big differences!

Of course this pairs well with yogurt, but it's a great snack on it's own and a great topper on ice cream. I've also used this as a base for a cheesecake crust- outstanding! You'll be fat and happy just from the aroma the baking granola fills your house with. Try all three of my granola recipes....you'll find oats are your friend an you'll never buy store bought again.

Healthy Applesauce Granola

Toss in a big bowl:
6 cups of old fashioned oats
1 cup raisins
1 cup almonds

Whisk:
1 cup applesauce
1/2 Tbls vanilla
1 tsp almond
1/2 Tbls cinnamon
1 scant tsp nutmeg
3/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
1/4 cup (heaping) brown sugar
pinch of salt

Whisk all the wet ingredients (from applesauce to brown sugar). Then use your hands to mix the sauce into the oat mix; be sure everything gets coated but don't over mix and do squeeze some clumps if you like the clumpy granola.

Spread out on between two cookie sheets, lightly greased. Bake in the oven at 200 degrees for about 2 hours; toss about every half hour and to check for doneness.