1. Preheat Your Oven and Prepare Your Baking Sheet: Start by preheating your oven to 300 F (150 C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. This step is crucial as it prevents the granola from sticking and makes cleanup much easier.

2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, chopped pecans, ground cinnamon, and salt. Stir everything together thoroughly with a spoon or spatula until the spices are evenly distributed among the oats and pecans.

3. Whisk Wet Ingredients: In a separate, smaller bowl or a measuring cup, whisk together the pure maple syrup, olive oil (or melted coconut oil), and vanilla extract until they are well combined and smooth.

4. Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Pour the wet ingredient mixture over the dry ingredients in the large bowl. Stir well, ensuring that all the oats and pecans are evenly coated with the maple syrup mixture. It might take a minute or two of stirring to get everything fully coated.

5. Spread Granola on Baking Sheet: Transfer the coated granola mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread it out into an even layer. Try to avoid piling it up too thickly, as a thinner layer helps the granola bake more evenly and get crispier.

6. Bake Until Golden and Fragrant: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Halfway through the baking time (around 12-15 minutes), gently stir the granola with a spatula to promote even browning. The granola is ready when it’s golden brown around the edges and smells wonderfully toasted.

7. Cool Completely: Once baked, remove the baking sheet from the oven. Let the granola cool completely on the baking sheet without disturbing it. This cooling step is vital for achieving that perfect crunchy texture. As it cools, it will crisp up significantly.

8. Break Apart and Store: Once fully cooled, break the granola into clusters of your desired size. Transfer it to an airtight container for storage.