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I’ve made this a few times now and it is one of my favorite granola recipes!! I keep coming back to it because of those delicious clusters! Thank you!!
Mary Clare
O-la!
Friends? Get yoselves ready because here come the Big Clusters marching down bloggy avenue. Your snacking, breakfasting, and crunchy-sprinkled-topping will never be the same. These are happy granola hailstones of epic peanut-buttery-delicious proportions.
You might already remember that Bjork and I are now your weird friends who follow what we’re calling a sugar selective diet so normally granola would be kind of a treat for us. *eye roll* But the yummy-good news is that refined sugars are long gone in this granola recipe, making this an everyday snackerific awesome food that we can feel three cheers good about. To sweeten these big boys, I used a couple of different things during testing, like real maple syrup // raw honey // the newest food to our pantry: brown rice syrup <– who are we —> and it’s all just a big sugar selective granola party up in this house.
The granola itself is mildly sweet, peanutty, whole wheaty, and so satisfyingly crunchy with semi-soft centers to the clusters because I hate to launch into a bowl of granola and not be able to hear anything. But then again the crunch is necessary, right? These accommodate both the crunch and the soft yummy.
A word about the big clusters. A handful of these makes for a per-fect-o-snack. They are begging for one bite grabs every.single.time. you walk by the kitchen and have caused certain food bloggers in our family to get their hands stuck in the granola jar while digging for that one big cluster at the bottom of the jar. Dare I say they remind me of a freshly baked peanut butter cookie in crunchy snack form? Whoa now. Trouble with a capital T.
My MUST MAKE GRANOLA NOW mindset got started actually like three weeks ago. I’ve been in the granola swing of things ever since I went to the cabin and we ate like kings because my mom made like 800 gallons of homemade granola for us to eat sprinkled on everything all the time. Then it was 11pm on a Friday night last week and big fat clusters needed to happen a-sap, and so began the making of the granolas.
I made a few different batches including my mom’s for, you know, like, the recipe research and stuff? munch munch. And I settled real nice and comfy on this peanut butter granola because it’s
- irresistibly delicious,
- banana and blueberry and yogurt’s best friend,
- totally EZ to make, and
- absolutely guaranteed to give you all the sweet clusters that your heart desires.
The whole party pan of granola is basically one big cluster when it comes out of the oven, so you get to control the clusterabilty when you stir it all up in there like-a-so.
In addition to this granola being the highlight of my week (and its only Monday! genius) I would have to say that having a new sidewalk is basically the best thing that could have ever happened to our front yard and I feel unnaturally happy when I go stand in the street like a creeper to admire our house and its new smooth grey cement. Next up on the list of house things: dirt, trees, grass seed, and other things that no one wants to spend money on.
On the list of fun things that is a little better to spend money on is the impending kitchen remodel. Yes yes yes yesss! We’re talking about the knocking down of walls and the installation of real appliances that have more than one heat setting and the picking out of non-orange cabinets and things of that sort. Here’s a little rough phase one drawing of what’s to come. When I look at this I squeal in my head. Or outloud. Or both.
Okay, so maybe it’s a little anticlimactic unless you remember how our kitchen currently looks and how there’s a big wall that’s in the way and that’s going to be knocked down to make this all happen. EEEEE
This plan is currently being reworked a bit already – the visible microwave is getting kicked to the curb and the oven is moving under the cooktop because my dreams are going to come true when we put a dishwasher there instead. The fridge area will have some cool built-ins and it’s actually not pictured here, but it will be directly across from the sink on the back wall. The counter on the cooktop side will also extend as many inches as we can possibly squeak out into the next room (which is the dining room) for a perfect place for Bjork to sit and chat with me all day every day while I’m cooking. There might be some iced coffee and zucchini muffin bribery required for that, but I dream big.
So yes – the Yum Sweet Home kitchen aka my office is small and it’s cozy, and it’s open for helpful advice. Small kitchen friends and fellow old house dwellers, please teach me how to efficiently cook in a small space! What do we NEED need? Am I forgetting something or totally messing something up here? Does it look seriously so awesome? <– you win free granola shipments.
And actual tiny house friends… oh my gosh. If you seriously live in a tiny house I am dying to stalk you. We are kind of on a tiny house documentary TV and movie binge and I’m so curious about the whole thing. I will fall off my chair if you leave a comment.
Alright alright I talk too much I get it I get it I get it. Granola time is upon us.
So everybody say hello to oats, peanuts, whole wheat flour and the gang and just let all the friendly hippie foods wrap you up in a yummy granola group hug.
Big Cluster Peanut Butter Granola
- Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 16 (about 1/2 cup per serving – but it depends on how big your clusters are) 1x
Description
This super simple Big Cluster Peanut Butter Granola is made with whole grains and no refined sugars – it’s a perfect sweet and crunchy homemade snack!
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup salted or honey roasted peanuts (chopped if you want but not necessary)
- 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup natural peanut butter (doesn’t have to be exact – messy mess)
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 2/3 cup real maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/4 cup milk (I used vanilla almond milk)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Mix the oats, nuts, flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Whisk the peanut butter, canola oil, real maple syrup, vanilla, and milk together until smooth. Pour the wet mixture over the oat mixture and stir to combine.
- Line a large (9×13 or larger) jelly roll pan with parchment paper. Pour the granola mixture onto the pan and spread evenly. Bake for 15 minutes; stir once. Bake for another 15 minutes until golden brown and dry to the touch, but check back before the timer goes off to make sure it’s not getting too brown and dry. You want it to still be semi-soft. Leave the granola out for a while (2-3 hours) to cool, cluster, and crunchify. I left mine in the oven after it had cooled down to prevent the eat-a-cluster-every-time-you-walk-by problem. Serve on yogurt, with fruit, ice cream, milk, or just as a clusterific snack.
Notes
The granola will taste best once it’s cooled. I sprinkled mine with a little extra sea salt for salty-sweet yum.
You can customize this by using different nuts, nut butters, and sweeteners. I made a honey almond version using sliced almonds, almond butter, and a combo of honey and brown rice syrup. Mmmm.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: peanut butter granola, granola recipe, big cluster granola recipe
Granola clusters are the best and this looks soo yummy!! Congrats on the upcoming new kitchen! That’s very exciting.
I did not like this at all. It has a cloying taste, made me thirsty. I see many of the comments while nice…….they did not make the recipe. Make the recipe, then comment.
I threw it outside for the birds.
Sorry!
I’m sorry to hear that Judith! Did you eat it plain? You might enjoy it more with yogurt or fruit, or it might be worth trying to swap out some of the ingredients for things you like more (i.e. almonds, pecans, honey, etc) if you ever were to try it again. Also, did you use natural peanut butter? If not it may have been the cause of dryness – natural peanut butter is much more oily than traditional peanut butter.
Thank you Lindsay I will try it again with your suggestions!
I’m glad you’ll give it another try Judith! My last tip is to wait to make the final judgement on taste until after it’s cooled. I found that mine tasted best after a few hours of rest. 🙂
I’ve never made granola this way (with flour, baking powder, milk) but will try this soon! I made some last night with oats, honey, olive oil, molasses, vanilla, sea salt, and a scoop of natural chunky peanut butter. I see that the other ingredients–flour, baking powder, milk (I use soy and almond too)–might allow for the clusters! I do agree with you on the natural v. processed peanut butter issue. It just works so much better for cooking, baking, and is healthier. The skippy, perter pan, and other processed varieties use hydrogenated oils and probably other additives to prevent separation. Some brands actually extract some of the natural oils and then add hydrogenated oil back to the peanuts during processing! Where did we go so wrong as a society that 10 seconds of stirring became such a problem? I think it results in a greasy, slimy product…almost with a margarine quality to it! And I find that processed PB does not blend very well in recipes.
I feel you on tiny kitchen problems, considering I call my kitchen the “lentil kitchen”
If both the hubs and I are in it at the same time, I get angry. NO SPACE.
However, he loves granola (especially the clustery bits) so this will keep him out and I can cook in peace.
I will marry you for that. I hope ours hubs’ understand. Pinned!
Yeah, ours is definitely a one-butt space. We get two people in there doing dishes and crankiness follows close behind.
This granola looks perfect!! Love those big clusters!
Lovely granola ! I totally believe the size + number of clusters directly correlates to happiness coefficient! 🙂
I live in a 550 square foot studio in Manhattan, so by default my kitchen is not so big. 🙂 I make it work just fine – the key is creative storage (a bench that has storage in it, high cabinets) and also when buying a new ‘kitchen thing’ I make certain that I absolutely cannot live without it. For example, I never purchased a full blender because the immersion blender covers 90% of the ‘blending’ I need! Hope this helps, happy to answer other ‘tiny house/tiny kitchen’ questions 🙂
Love that! Thanks for sharing Ahu!
I love this because 1) peanut butter is the best and 2) BIG CLUSTERS. I hate when store bought granola is just a bag of crumbs.
Congratulations on your kitchen renovation/ New sidewalk! That’s so exciting!
Crumbs. So annoying. Thanks for the nice comment Danielle!
I’ve never made granola at home, whyyyy??? I love that this recipe doesn’t have egg in it — a lot of them do, and that kind of creeps me out. Eggs belong being all dippy next to toast or on top of everything, not in my crunchy clusters. Can’t wait to just live inside a bowl of this.
Oh eew! I’ve never even heard of that. I’ll save the eggs for the poached egg and avocado toast thank you very much. 🙂
No! No! Embrace the egg! Smitten Kitchen’s granola has an egg white to help reduce the sugar and oil while upping the clump factor. It is seriously DIVINE. You have to try it.
Challenge accepted!
This looks so good! I seriously want to start crying for not being able to grab me a handful through the computer screen.
Oh wow, this granola looks AMAZING! There’s something about peanut butter on nice crunchy oats that gets me every time. And kitchen remodelling sounds like SO much fun! The kitchen is definitely my favourite room in any house and I can’t wait to see what you guys come up with!
delicious! PB and granola is the perfect combo 🙂 I’m liking the healthy sugar free recipes! … and good luck with the kitchen remodel! I can’t wait to see it, you guys did so good fixing up the rest of the house making it look fabulous! (luv the colors and furniture)
Thank you Michele! One step at a time!
This graola looks amazing!! I love anything peanut butter but honestly never even thought of pb granola!! Love this!
This looks like an awesome travel snack–hoping to make some and bring it with when I come back to MN on Wednesday! On a kind of unrelated note, if you and Bjork have any favorite new spots (for food or otherwise) in the Twin Cities I’d love suggestions–haven’t been back in a while or kept up on the food scene there, but I know there’s lots of good stuff popping up all the time!
Oh gosh, yes! We have lots of recs, although I don’t know that any of them are new… We love the India Palace, Obento-Ya, Blue Door Pub, Rojo, Muffaletta, Pad Thai, French Meadow Bakery/Cafe, and Common Roots Cafe.
Most of those are at least new to me! I wasn’t as much of a food enthusiast when I left the cities as I am now, so I’ll add them to the list (right after I get my baked potato pizza at Pizza Luce…). Thanks!
You are funny…..you and Bjork weird….I don’t think so! You two are adorable! I have been without refined sugar for offer a year now. In the beginning you think, how can I do this? Today I can’t imagine my life/diet any other way. Okay, maybe once in awhile Ben and Jerry call I say can you try this new flavor for us? 🙂 What am I suppose to do? It’s Ben and Jerry! I can’t let them down. 🙂
Haha – thanks Julie! I think it’s so funny that we’re now “those people” that we used to always roll our eyes about.
Granola and I have a love- love relationship but the problem is it’s just gone WAY too fast! (As in, I eat it all too fast) Needless to say, I try to keep my granola-tendencies in check but this looks like a splurge I need to indulge in 🙂
Beautiful photos, Lindsay! And I love the big clusters. Big cheers as well for naturally sweetened granola — the best. 🙂
Thanks Ali! 🙂
The kitchen plans look great! Can’t wait to get started on mine. One side the cabinets are almost off the wall, someone installed them crappy way back in the 70s and the floor is coming up. Like I said, can’t wait for my kitchen reno!
This looks delicious. Hope you had a great weekend!
Hippie foods for life!!!! =)
I have a tiny apartment so I understand the tiny kitchen problems. Except I’m jealous because I can’t renovate yet 🙁 I’m also jealous because I’m at work and can’t make these big peanut butter clusters now!
YAY for kitchen remodel! Pretty please post the progress, I can’t wait to see it! p.s. This granola is something I would gladly faceplant into.
Yes I will! I am wishing I had more to share today than just the plan (like for example a real picture of the wall actually coming down) but I think we have a little ways to go before that will happen. Hopefully soon though!
Our first home was 975 square feet, not including the basement. I stored my pots in a hutch in the living room, which was near our dining area. The previous owners had installed wire baskets on the inside of the pantry and linen closet doors, as well as the inside of the kitchen cabinet doors, which provided much-needed extra storage. I used our dining table as a work surface for cooking, and would have bought a cart with drawers and a cutting board surface, if I didn’t have to make room for a kiddie table for my little ones. The house was cute and cozy, and we made lots of good memories there. Good luck!
Thanks Andrea! That’s about the size of our house, too… we’re going to have to get creative with some storage things for kitchen appliances!
Like lots of the others commenting, I have never made granola though I love it. I am just wondering (as like you I am trying to cut sugar, though less successfully), if one was to blitz dried banana chips and use that for sweetening by mixing it in before baking if that might work though it might not??! Will try it out and report back!
YES! Yummy. Love that idea – I just didn’t want to add banana chips because 1) they are usually fried or overly sweetened and 2) I didn’t want to make an extra run to the store. 🙂 But I love the idea. I almost always eat this with fresh bananas on yogurt anyways… so can’t be much different!
oh yes forgot shop bought ones are dried. I’ve just bought a dehydrator so am going to try that (apparently if you dip them in a little honey first then dry them it works)
Kitchen remodel, that’s so exciting! My dream is to have one with a large island in the center. Good luck and hope it’s perfect for you guys. I’ve never had peanut butter in the granola so definitely will try. Love the photos as always!
Hi Lindsay!
On the tiny house movement: have you looked into Kristen Dirksen, of FairCompanies on Youtube? Her tiny home videos are so awesome that I almost forgot to study for my finals…
https://www.youtube.com/user/kirstendirksen
I highly recommend her work! Check out her homemade documentary as well 🙂
I think I just lost all focus and productivity. Thanks for the welcome distraction!
big clusters = the key to perfect granola. looks fabulous!
Thanks Cait!
Wow AWESOME recipe! And your pictures are beautiful!
This looks nutty, crunchy, and so delicious! Big clusters are where it’s at with granola!