You guys, I found my new favorite granola. This time, it's gluten free, packed with so many goodies, and tastes AWESOME. I was pretty proud of myself.

Okay, so I've definitely jumped on the chia and quinoa bandwagon, but I was hesitant to put it in a granola since I was unsure of how it would affect the taste and texture. However, I just went for it this time, and let me tell you, I'm never going back! It just added to the crunch, didn't compromise the texture or taste, and adds so many nutrients! I think I may even start adding them to my tried and true classic granola recipe.

After roasting some delicious pumpkin seeds, I decided to experiment more with this nutrient packed seed, and purchased some shelled pumpkin seeds at the market. Have I told you how much I love our market here? I simply adore having people I go to every week for my produce and eggs. I affectionately called them "my apple guy", "my egg lady" and "garlic woman". That last name might not sound so flattering, but she sells the most beautiful and inexpensive garlic! Here in Korea they even peel the garlic for you, so literally all I do is buy a huge bag of peeled garlic for $3.00 and I'm good to go for a couple weeks!

Anyway, back to this granola. It's super simple, takes about 10 minutes to whip up, and 20 minutes to bake.

Go ahead and grab these things, and you'll be good to go!

6 cups gluten free oats

2 cups dehydrated apples

1 cup sliced almonds

1/2 cup shelled pumpkin seeds

1/4 cup quinoa

1/4 cup chia seeds

2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon (I really like cinnamon, so if this is too much for you decrease the amount)

1 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon allspice

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup applesauce

2/3 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup honey

Whew! I know that looks like a super long ingredient list, but that's what makes this granola so jam-packed full of goodness. You probably have most, if not all of this stuff in your pantry already, so throwing it together is a cinch!

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees, and throw all your ingredients into a bowl. Mix it up really well so you don't have random clumps of cinnamon or chia seeds, and then spread your mixture thin on a cookie sheet or baking pan. Press firmly on the granola to flatten it, and stick it in the oven for 20 minutes (for more detailed instructions and pictures on how to cook granola, click here).

After 20 minutes the granola should be done. Look for a deep golden color, and then you'll know it's finished. Take it out of the oven and allow to cool completely before breaking it apart into whatever size chunks you desire. Throw it over some yogurt, ice cream, or pour milk over it and enjoy a great bowl of granola! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. What are your favorite ingredients for granola?

Fall Harvest Granola