Healthy Peanut Butter Granola makes the perfect make-ahead breakfast. This oat granola is full of satisfying oats, is refined sugar-free and is packed with dried fruits and other delicious optional extras. It’s good as a ‘sprinkle’ on yoghurt and works as a ‘trail-mix’ style snack.
This Granola recipe uses 5 basic ingredients that you probably have in the pantry right now. It takes just 5 minutes to prepare, 30 minutes to bake so 35 minutes altogether and you can have healthy granola prepared and ready to eat and enjoy. If you can measure out ingredients, stir and set your oven timer, you can make this. It is so simple.
Homemade granola makes the perfect breakfast cereal when time is short. Just tip some into a bowl, add your favourite fruit, a little milk or yoghurt and you’ve got a delicious breakfast all ready to enjoy. The big bonus is that you’re completely in control of what is in it.
Ingredients in this Peanut butter Granola recipe
These everyday ingredients and the exact amounts used are listed in the recipe below. These are just a few notes to help you make the best granola ever!
- peanut butter – use your favourite kind of peanut butter. Creamy or Crunchy versions work here or you could make your own using our Peanut Butter recipe. Use your own homemade peanut butter or a store-bought version that doesn’t include excess salt, oils or sugar. All you want is a peanut butter spread that is protein packed and full of healthy fats and fibre.
- oats – I’ve used jumbo rolled oats in this recipe because I like the lovely texture they give. However, if you have rolled oats – the kind you might buy to make porridge with – that’s fine. The texture will be smoother but they work just the same. Children may prefer granola made with rolled oats.
- coconut oil – the recipe uses melted organic coconut oil as I find that this is best way to achieve quite lovely granola clusters or nuggets. You may use a neutral tasting oil if you’re not a fan of coconut oil. The granola may not form clusters however.
- Sweeteners – this recipe uses maple syrup for sweetness which means the granola is refined sugar free. You may substitute date syrup or agave nectar for this if you prefer.
- extra flavours – ground cinnamon. Cinnamon is probably my favourite spice and works really well as a flavour that enhances all the other flavour in the finished granola.
- optional add-ins – this granola lends inself to including all kinds of other good things; nuts, banana chips, dried fruit and even chocolate chips.
Find some suggestions for variations and substitutions below.
Making homemade Peanut Butter Granola
Be confident with this recipe, it is really easy.
So, roll up your sleeves, locate your mixing bowls, measuring equipment and ingredients and let’s get making Granola.
- Measure the coconut oil, peanut butter and maple syrup into a microwave bowl or jug and heat in the microwave until the peanut butter melts and you can stir everything together to combine. It looks a bit odd to begin with but soon comes together.
- Using a saucepan ? Then add the peanut butter, maple syrup and oil and heat until the peanut butter has melted. Stir whilst this is happening.
- Heat the oven. In a large, roomy mixing bowl, measure out the oats and mix in the ground cinnamon.
- Once the peanut butter, syruppy mixture is ready, pour into the oats. The syrup will be warm so be careful with it. Stir thoroughly to combine. All the oats should be well covered.
- Tip onto a baking tray that is covered with baking parchment. (This just makes washing up easier.) Spread the mixture out and pop it into the oven. Set the oven timer.
- Remove the oats from the oven at half way through the total cooking time and stir to ensure that all the oats get a little toasted.
- Want granola clusters? Then press the oats down using the back of a spoon to compress them a little. Pop back into the oven and allow them to finish cooking. Keep an eye on the oats so that they do not brown too much.
- When the cooking time is up, remove from the oven and leave to cool completely. Then you may mix in any add-ins and store in a suitable container.
Substitutions
Here are a few variations/substitutions that you can make to the basic recipe for healthy peanut butter granola.
- Use almond butter or sun butter (made from sunflower seeds) instead of the peanut butter.
- Oats – you can use rolled oats or chunky, whole oats version in this recipe if you wish. The recipe works just the same.
- Use a neutral tasting oil instead of the coconut oil but don’t use your best extra virgin olive oil as the flavour will over power the other ingredients. Using a different oil such as sunflower oil but it will make it more difficult o make those delicious clusters.
- Maple syrup – if you don’t like maple syrup then how about using date syrup, honey or agave nectar.
- Dried fruit – I suggest using banana chips in the recipes but other dried fruits work too. Think about dried cranberries, chopped dates, chopped dried apricots, sultanas or raisins.
- This oat granola is also delicous with the addition of nuts. Try a few chopped raw peanuts, walnut or pecans. Walnuts will add a little Omega-3 to the nutrition this breakfast cereal can offer. This Granola need never disappoint you in the flavour department.
- Chocolate Chips – chocolate goes brilliantly with peanut butter
Delicious Add-ins to the basic Granola
Now that you’ve made this easy granola recipe it is time to consider what additional goodies you’d like, to make it completely delicious and totally suited to your personal tastes. These are a few of the things that we add. Don’t be afraid to add more than one of the following. ( I do!)
- peanut butter is best friends with bananas so why not add a few banana chips? (I add a 1/2 cup measure to this amount of cereal.)
- coconut flakes – a brilliant flavour combination. Toast them a little to really bring out the flavour.
- chocolate chips – I know… chocolate in your breakfast cereal … really? But it does work very well in this recipe and it may just be the one thing that gets your family eating breakfast. ( I add about a 1/4 cup to this amount.)
- dried fruit is another fantastic option. Why not add in your favourite ones. Apricots and sultanas work brilliantly in my opinion. ( I add about 1/2 cup to this amount of granola.)
Tips for Serving
Just like our other granola recipe, Apricot Almond granola, there are many ways to enjoy this cereal. Serve it in a bowl with milk or yoghurt, coconut yoghurt is a real winner here. There are vegan-friendly and lactose-intolerant versions of all of these. Add your favourite or seasonal fruits too. Most berries go really well with these flavours and you can always slice up a fresh banana.
You can also use this granola a little like a trail mix. Add it to lunch boxes as a healthy little snack or take it with you on your next visit to the park. In which case I would definitely add a few chocolate chips!
F.A.Q’s
This granola recipe is gluten-free if you use certified gluten-free oats. Oats are naturally gluten-free but are sometimes processed in factories which also handle other gluten-containing grains and there is a real chance of cross-contamination. You’ll find the appropriate information on the label to help you.
Yes, it is, provided that you use a vegan suitable peanut butter, surprisingly not all of them are. (You could try making your own peanut butter – it’s pretty simple.)
Serve with vegan-friendly, plant-based milk and yoghurts.
Granola is considered healthy but it depends on the ingredients used and on how it’s made. Many store-bought versions are high in refined sugars, hydrogenated oils and palm oils, which are generally believed to be not good for us. This is why homemade granola is better for us. You can decide on which sweetener and on how much of it that you use. You can choose healthier fats too and use them in moderation. Making this yourself gives you all that control over the ingredients and that’s what makes this granola a healthier version of this popular breakfast cereal.
This recipe has been created with a 1/2 cup serving as being enough to make a good, satisfying breakfast. In reality, this is down to personal choice. Only eat enough to feel satisfied but not overfull.
Storing Homemade Peanut Butter Granola
This healthy peanut butter granola will store successfully for up to 2 weeks in a suitable airtight container.
It is possible to freeze this cereal for up to 3 months if you want to seriously prepare ahead. However, I think that it does change the texture of the cereal a little when it thaws out. If you intend to freeze it then leave out any extra dried fruits or nuts and add those when you’re ready to use the granola.
Other recipes that you may like…
- Easy homemade granola with sticky dates
- Easy homemade Granola recipe
- Chocolate Overnight Oats
- An easy Muesli recipe
Get in Touch
Follow us on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST OR INSTAGRAM and say hello. Or why not sign-up for our newsletter and keep up with our latest news and recipes.
How to make Healthy Peanut Butter Granola
Equipment
- 1 large mixing bowl
- spatulas
- 1 small saucepan
- 1 baking tray
Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup peanut butter creamy or crunchy
- 1/4 cup coconut oil substitute olive oil if preferred
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (optional – but delicious)
Optional add-ins
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup banana chips
- 1/2 cup sultanas
Instructions
- Measure the oats and cinnamon into a large mixing bowl and stir to combine.
- Measure the peanut butter, maple syrup and oil into a microwave proof bowl and heat in the microwave in 30 second bursts, until everything has melted. Stir well to combine. If using a saucepan, measure the maple syrup, peanut butter and oil and heat. Stir until eveything has melted together to form a syruppy, peanutty sauce.
- Pre-heat the oven to 350F/170C/150Fan.
- Tip the peanut/syrup covered oats onto a baking tray that is covered with baking parchment. (This just makes washing up easier.) Spread the mixture out and pop it into the oven. Set the oven timer for ten minutes.
- Remove the oats from the oven after ten minutes and stir to ensure that all the oats get a little toasted. Pop back into the oven for a further ten minutes. Keep an eye on them so that do not over brown.Want granola clusters? Then press the oats down using the back of a spoon to compress them a little. Pop back into the oven and allow them to finish cooking. Keep an eye on the oats so that they do not brown too much.
- At the end of the cooking time (20 minutes all together), remove from the oven and leave to cool completely. Then you may mix in any add-ins and store in a suitable container.
Notes
Delicious Add-ins to the basic Granola
Now that you’ve made this easy granola recipe it is time to consider what additional goodies you’d like, to make it completely delicious and totally suited to your personal tastes. These are a few of the things that we add. Don’t be afraid to add more than one of the following. ( I do!)- peanut butter is best friends with bananas so why not add a few banana chips? (I add a 1/2 cup measure to this amount of cereal.)
- coconut flakes – a brilliant flavour combination. Toast them a little to really bring out the flavour.
- chocolate chips – I know… chocolate in your breakfast cereal … really? But it does work very well in this recipe and it may just be the one thing that gets your family eating breakfast. ( I add about a 1/4 cup to this amount.)
- dried fruit is another fantastic option. Why not add in your favourite ones. Apricots and sultanas work brilliantly in my opinion. ( I add about 1/2 cup to this amount of granola.)
Nutrition
Why not Pin this Healthy Peanut Butter Granola recipe for later?
This is just the thing for my daughter! And thanks to your recipe, I can make this at home! Thank you!
Yes – it is pretty simple to make at home and you can vary the fruit and the nuts to make it suited to you ad your family.
Peanut butter granola? Yes please!! You had me at peanut butter!
It’s lovely I like the way that the milk or yoghurt that you eat it with, gets flavoured with the peanut butter too.
I love making these as my quick energy bite before and after my runs and yes they are so easy to make 🙂
I eat it as an energy snack too and I like varying the fruit and seeds.
I made this sometime back it was so good I would top my ice cream with it.
Glad you like it 🙂
Oh wow my kids will love this and it is so healthy as well. We might have to try this recipe at the weekend.
Peanut Butter is a huge hit at my house! I actually have all of the ingredients needed for this recipe in my pantry. I will certainly have to try this soon.