Description
This Healthy Peanut Butter Granola recipe offers a delicious and nutritious twist on classic granola, combining quick-cooking oats, creamy peanut butter, and a touch of cinnamon for a satisfying snack or breakfast option. Sweetened naturally with honey or maple syrup, this granola is baked to a perfect golden crisp, making it an ideal treat to enjoy on its own or with yogurt and fruit.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups quick-cooking oats
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Wet Ingredients
- 6 Tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup honey (or maple syrup)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a large cookie sheet and set it aside to prepare for baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, combine the quick-cooking oats, ground cinnamon, and sea salt. Stir them together and set the mixture aside.
- Melt Wet Ingredients: Using a microwave-safe dish or a stovetop pan, gently melt the creamy peanut butter and honey (or maple syrup) together until the mixture is smooth and easy to stir.
- Add Vanilla: Remove the melted mixture from the heat and stir in the vanilla bean paste until fully incorporated.
- Combine Ingredients: Stir the dry oat mixture into the peanut butter and honey mixture, mixing thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined and evenly coated.
- Spread Mixture: Evenly spread the granola mixture onto the prepared cookie sheet in a thin layer to ensure even baking.
- Bake Granola: Place the cookie sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Halfway through baking, gently stir the granola once to promote even browning. To check for doneness, remove a small portion and let it cool; if it hardens as it cools, the granola is ready.
- Cool Down: Remove the granola from the oven and allow it to cool completely on the cookie sheet, enabling it to crisp up.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once cooled, break the granola into clusters and enjoy as a snack or topping for yogurt and fruit.
Notes
- Substitute maple syrup if you prefer a vegan sweetener.
- Store cooled granola in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to 1 week.
- Customize your granola by adding nuts, seeds, or dried fruits after baking.
- Ensure not to overbake, as granola can quickly go from perfectly toasted to burnt.
- Use vanilla bean paste for a richer vanilla flavor, but vanilla extract can be substituted if needed.