Fat-Free Applesauce Granola

I’m always in search of the perfect granola. I am not going to stop until I find it. To me, the perfect granola has to have a few key characteristics: it must be crunchy, it must have clumps, and I’d like it to be healthy(ish). This granola meets all of my criteria. It is definitely healthier than most granola since it is fat-free without any oils or butter. It is also very crunchy and has some clump in it too. The only thing I have to work on with this recipe is that the middle of the baking sheet doesn’t cook at the same rate as the outside. This means that the outside gets brown and crispy before the middle of the sheet. I think if I just took the outside of the granola off the sheet and put the rest into the oven again this would fix the problem. I will have to try this next time.

You will probably see a lot of granola recipes on this blog as I continue to search for my perfect, go-to recipe. And, since I need to have granola on hand at all times, I will be trying new recipes and cooking techniques pretty often.

Fat-Free Applesauce Granola

2 ½ cups rolled oats
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup brown sugar (I used sucanat)
½ cup applesauce
1/8 cup agave syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or us a Silpat mat.

In a large bowl, combine oats, cinnamon and salt. Mix well. In a medium bowl, whisk together brown sugar, applesauce, agave syrup and vanilla extract. Pour wet ingredients into oat mixture and stir until oats are evenly covered. Spread the mixture evenly on the baking sheet.

Bake for 20 minutes, and stir oats on the baking sheet. Bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the granola is golden brown and crisp. The oats in the middle of the baking sheet may need additional time to brown. Let cool completely. Add any dried fruit or nuts after granola is cool. Store in an airtight container.