9-Ingredient Homemade Peanut Butter Granola
Crunchy peanut butter clusters sweetened with maple syrup and spiced with cinnamon—this granola is the best balance of salty-sweet and makes the perfect addition to your morning yogurt, oatmeal, or pancakes!
Homemade Granola vs. Store-Bought
I’m sure you’re wondering why you would make homemade granola when you can just buy it at the store, and you’re right—there are countless brands of granola out there that are delicious. But most affordable granola brands are full of added sweeteners and ingredients that (while delicious) aren’t always ideal for a balanced snack or breakfast. This homemade granola recipe is the best of both worlds, being both cheaper to make, lower in sugar, and allowing you to customize the recipe to your dietary needs and preferences!
Ingredients in Peanut Butter Granola
- Natural peanut butter. A natural peanut butter is best for this recipe; the only ingredients listed on the jar should be peanuts and salt. My favorite brand is this Smucker’s Natural—I use it with everything!
- Pure maple syrup. Sweetens the granola and adds moisture to keep everything together.
- Old-fashioned rolled oats. Rolled oats provide the best texture—do not use instant or steel-cut oats.
- Puffed rice cereal. To add extra volume and crunchiness.
- Chopped peanuts. For a deeper peanut flavor.
- Chia seeds. To help the granola hold together and to add texture.
- Kosher salt. To enhance flavor and balance sweetness.
- Cinnamon. For a warm, spiced note.
- Egg white. This is the secret ingredient—the egg white will act as a binder to keep the granola together, giving you those big granola clusters.
How to Use Granola
Another reason I love granola is because of its versatility! There are tons of different ways to use it, but here are my favorites:
- In yogurt. You can’t beat a classic—I like to stir some cinnamon into my yogurt then top it with nut butter and granola for a quick snack.
- On oatmeal or smoothies. Granola adds another layer of texture to oatmeal and smoothie bowls—I love using it as a topping for this chocolate peanut butter protein smoothie!
- As cereal. Just pour some into a bowl, add some milk, and you’re good to go.
- On pancakes. Pancakes (or waffles) + peanut butter + fruit + granola = heaven.
- In trail mix. This makes for a super easy snack if you need to prep something beforehand. Just add whatever ingredients you have in the pantry—raisins, nuts, M&Ms, pretzels—and mix it together with some granola and you’ve got an easy, grab-and-go snack.
Let me know if you give this recipe a try or if you have any questions—happy baking!
Don’t like peanut butter? Check out my classic granola recipe and give it a try!
9-Ingredient Homemade Peanut Butter Granola
Ingredients
- ¼ cup natural peanut butter*
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- ¾ cup puffed rice cereal
- ½ cup chopped peanuts
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- A pinch kosher salt
- A dash cinnamon
- 1 large egg white
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325℉ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the peanut butter into a large bowl and microwave for around 30 seconds until thin and melted. Add the maple syrup and stir to combine.
- Add in the oats, cereal, peanuts, chia seeds, cinnamon, and salt, mixing with a rubber spatula until evenly distributed. In a small bowl, whisk the egg white until slightly frothy and broken up, about 1 minute, then add the egg white to the granola mixture.
- Stir the granola until well combined, then pour it onto the prepared baking sheet. Firmly press the mixture into an even slab around ¼ to ½ inch thick.
- Bake the granola for 30-35 minutes, until crisp and golden around the edges. To test it for doneness, open the oven and carefully pinch a bit of granola off of the pan. Let it cool. If you taste it and it's too soft, continue to bake until crisp to your preference.
- Remove the granola from the oven and allow it to cool completely before breaking into pieces. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 weeks.
