Weather: 0 degrees, sparkling frosty trees
What I’m listening to: Sarah Mclachlan, Wintersong

I promised you when we had Pumpkin Granola earlier in the Fall that I had more granola ideas brewing. This is my holiday version. Tis’ the season for gift-giving and I think homemade granola would make a lovely Christmas food-gift. Scoop a few cups into a holiday cello bag, tie it with a festive ribbon, and put a nice tag on it. It stays crunchy and fresh, so you can ship it to loved ones who are far away, too. Ah, the delight of something festive and homemade, wholesome and delicious.

Cranberry Orange Granola

Dry Ingredients:
3c old-fashioned oats
2c crispy rice cereal
1/2t salt
zest of half an orange
Wet Ingredients:
3/4c brown sugar
1/4c applesauce
1/4c freshly-squeezed orange juice
2T pure maple syrup
1/4c oil (I used Canola)
Set Aside:
2/3c dried cranberries
2/3c pecans, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 325. Line a large baking sheet with foil and spray foil with cooking spray.

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and stir until combined.

In another bowl, mix wet ingredients until smooth. Pour wet into dry ingredients. Stir until all the oats are coated.

Spread in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes. Pull pan out of oven and stir oats. Smooth back out into a single layer and sprinkle on pecans. Spray whole pan with a light coating of non-stick spray. Return to oven for 15 more minutes.