Lower Fat Granola

I have recently become interested in making homemade granola.  It is so incredibly expensive to buy, yet so easy (and much cheaper) to make at home.  Plus, it fills your house with a divine aroma as it bakes!  I like to use the oat mixture as a base, and then add different nuts and dried fruit to make new flavor combinations.  You can make lots of substitutions here - just make sure to keep the ratio of oat mixture to liquid mixture about the same.  This recipe is lower in fat than most because it uses only one tablespoon of oil.  If you don't have agave nectar you can substitute additional honey.

LOWER FAT GRANOLA
From Hannah's Kitchen

INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup almonds, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon sea salt (omit if your nuts are salted)
6 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
3 tablespoons agave nectar
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup dried apricots, diced
1/4 cup dried cranberries

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, almonds, wheat germ, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.

3. In a small saucepan, warm the applesauce with the agave nectar, honey, and oil.

4. Mix the liquid into the dry ingredients until thoroughly combined, then spread the mixture evenly onto a rimmed baking sheet.

5. Bake granola for about 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes until the granola is deep golden brown.

6. Remove from oven and cool completely.  Add dried fruit and store in an airtight container for up to one month.