It’s officially pumpkin season here. While fall is not my favorite season, I do love the excuse to make anything pumpkin flavored. Including pumpkin granola. So when I got some Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts in the mail to try out, I knew exactly what I would do with them – make granola!

And since I was craving some pumpkin granola, I combined the two – so here you go  … pumpkin hemp hearts granola. It’s pretty good.  It’s a little less sweet than the typical granola I make (feel free to add more sugar if you want it sweeter) and a little softer (pumpkin will do that to it) BUT it’s the perfect fall breakfast or snack. I dare you to try it with pumpkin yogurt!

Pumpkin Hemp Hearts Granola

Here’s what you need:

• 3 ½ c old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/3 c hemp hearts (I used Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts)
• 2 tsps ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground cloves
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp ground ginger
• ¼ tsp allspice
• 1 Tablespoon packed brown sugar
• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• ¼ cup pure maple syrup
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ c coconut oil, melted  
• 1 egg white
• Optional: Dried fruit, such as cranberries, cherries, etc.

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325F degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, combine the oats and hemp hearts. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, allspice and brown sugar. Mix until puree is a little darker and smooth. Add in maple syrup, honey and melted coconut oil. In a separate bowl, whisk egg white. Add to pumpkin puree mixture and mix until evenly combined. Pour over oats and hemp hearts and mix until everything is just wet.
• Spread onto the baking sheet pat oat mixture down tightly. Bake for about 40 minutes. Check about every 15 minutes and stir if it is starting to burn.
• Allow granola to cool for 30 minutes on the baking sheet before adding in dried fruit.
• Store in a covered container, such as a jar. Granola won’t be as crunchy as other granolas because of the pumpkin – but it’s delicious!

Some questions for you:

• What’s your favorite pumpkin flavored treat this time of year? Yogurt? Latte? Cookies?
• Any pumpkin haters out there?
• Do you prefer dry cereal or with milk? I love dry cereal. I sometimes like cereal or granola with yogurt- but never milk.

For more Meatless Monday posts, check out some of my past recipes or visit the linkups below!

Meatless Monday!