Crunchy Quinoa Granola

A Crunchy, satisfying granola. It goes great with yogurt, fruit, or on it's own!

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 60
• Yields: 15 cups

Ingredients

• 6  cups old fashioned oats (not instant)
• 1  cup quinoa, soaked and rinsed
• 1⁄2 cup ground flax seeds (optional)
• 1 1⁄2 cups  chopped  almonds or 1 1⁄2 cups cashews or 1 1⁄2 cups pecans
• 1  tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1  tablespoon cinnamon
• 1⁄2 cup salted butter
• 1⁄2 cup corn syrup or 1⁄2 cup  agave syrup
• 1⁄2 cup honey
• 1⁄2 cup molasses
• 1  tablespoon vanilla
• 15  ounces dried cranberries or 15  ounces  dried blueberries or 15  ounces dried cherries or 15  ounces raisins or 15  ounces  dried apricots or 15  ounces  dried pineapple, chopped
• 1⁄4 cup water

Directions

1. Soak quinoa in enough water to generously cover. Soak for a minimum of 2 hours, maximum of 24.
2. Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
3. Mix drained quinoa, oats, nuts, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and flax in a large bowl. Set aside.
4. In a sauce pan, melt butter.
5. Add corn syrup, honey, and molasses. Bring to a boil.
6. Boil, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
7. Remove from heat, and carefully add vanilla. It will wildly boil, so stand back from the steam.
8. Stir butter mixture in to the oats, and coat evenly.
9. Once well coated, add the 1/4 cup water. (The water will help the granola form clusters.).
10. Using a half sheet pan, press the granola firmly out into a sheet pan.
11. Bake in a 200 degree oven for 30 minutes.
12. Stir, and press granola back down into the pan.
13. Cook for another 20- 30 minutes.
14. By now, it should have begun to dry out and form clusters.
15. Turn off oven and allow to cool in the oven.
16. When cool, break in to clusters, and stir in the dried fruit of your choice.