This keto granola has all the crunchy clusters you crave, with none of the grains or sugar. It makes a healthy low carb breakfast or an easy on-the-go snack. Sweet and crispy!
I think we can all agree that the big, crunchy clusters are the best part of any granola. Sometimes they have them and it’s like you hit the jackpot. Sometimes they don’t and the granola is somehow less delicious and satisfying. Why is that?
I have been a granola girl for a very long time. My mother made the best granola, chock full of nuts, seeds, and nice big clusters. Of course, it was also chock full of carbs and sugars. But oh boy, I used to love that stuff.
I started making my own keto granola almost from the moment I went low carb. I have several recipes, each with their own special twist. Readers love my Peanut Butter Granola and Banana Nut Cereal for the flavors and the simplicity.
But this keto granola recipe is all about the crunch factor. Crispy clusters of goodness!
Why you will love this recipe
I started thinking about good low carb back-to-school snacks (scary how quickly the summer goes!) and it occurred to me that big chunks of keto granola would be ideal. I mean, what’s not to love?
These keto granola clusters are crunchy, sweet, and slightly salty too. The ideal snack, really, and they appeal to all ages. Oh and did I mention can be made ahead and stored for two weeks?
They’re perfect for adding to lunch boxes when hunger strikes at school. Or kept on the counter for after school snacks, when hungry kids rummage around the kitchen, looking for anything that stands still long enough to be eaten.
And my kids did love this keto granola, but you know who I think loved it best? My husband. He ate a few clusters every time he came through the kitchen. And he made big breakfast parfaits with yogurt, berries, and a some crumbled clusters over top.
They’re great for snacking but they’re also just as good for breakfast. Or even dessert over some Keto Vanilla Ice Cream.
Reader Reviews
“If there were 10 stars on this recipe, I would have given it an 11. This isn’t just Granola…it’s a religious experience, meant to be eaten with swoon-like reverence.” — Lynn
“OMG indeed. Brown “sugar” and butter…. I had this for breakfast and it was like eating cookies.” — Sara
“Uhm, this didn’t even last 48 hours in my house! Unquestionably the best snack ever made. You are a true culinary goddess and I worship you.” — Jennifer
Ingredients you need
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- Raw nuts: I used pecans and almonds, but you could also use walnuts, macadamia nuts and cashews.
- Flaked coconut: If you aren’t a fan of coconut, use sliced almonds instead.
- Pumpkin seeds: You will need shelled pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas. You can use sunflower seeds instead.
- Salt: This balances the sweetness of the granola.
- Sweeteners: if you want truly crunchy clusters, you need to use erythritol based sweeteners. Any amount of allulose or xylitol will keep the keto granola from crisping up properly. See the Expert Tips section for a detailed discussion of what sweeteners work best.
- Butter: I think this granola works best with butter but you can try coconut oil for a dairy free version.
- Flavoring: You can use vanilla extract or maple extract.
Step-by-step directions
1. In a food processor, combine the nuts, seeds, and salt. Process until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. A few larger pieces are okay.
2. In a large saucepan over low heat, combine the butter and sweeteners. Whisk until the butter is melted and the sweeteners are mostly dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
3. Stir in the nut mixture into the butter mixture until well combined. Transfer the mixture to a large baking sheet with parchment paper and spread out evenly. Top with waxed paper or parchment and press down firmly and evenly to a uniform thickness.
4. Bake at 300ºF for 20 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. Remove and let cool completely, then break into large chunks with your hands.
Expert Tips
As I experimented with this recipe, I did learn a few useful things along the way.
Pressing the mixture down firmly onto the pan is key to getting bigger clusters. It helps the mixture stick together and bake into a single piece. It can feel a bit greasy, so use some parchment or waxed paper overtop as you press down.
The edges will get more brown than the center so if you want to remove them early and keep baking the rest, you can do so. And as always with recipes like this, let it cool completely before breaking into clusters or chunks. It won’t be fully crisp until you do.
Sweetener Options
As mentioned above, only erythritol-based sweeteners allow keto granola to become truly crisp, so be sure to check the ingredients in your sweetener. Even the smallest amount of allulose, xylitol, or BochaSweet will prevent it from becoming crispy. If your sweetener contains monk fruit or stevia, that’s okay.
I used the OLD version of Swerve Brown, but the new version contains allulose so it’s not a good choice. They do now have an organic version Swerve Brown that’s mostly erythritol and monk fruit, so you can use that. I know this is confusing so make sure you read the labels.
Lakanto Brown, Gold So Nourished, and Purecane Brown should also work.
Serving Size and Storage Information
Unlike most recipes, I found there isn’t a good way to measure a serving by volume, as the clusters can be all sorts of different sizes. In the end, I weighed out the entire recipe and divided it up that way.
This recipe makes 8 servings of each about 64g, or a little over 2 ounces. But it’s rich and filling so could easily be divvied up into 10 or even 12 servings, especially as a snack.
I stored my granola clusters on the counter in a covered container for over a week. Because it has no eggs or super perishable ingredients, it can be easily stored at room temperature. Glass jars work well, if you have one big enough to keep all the clusters. Tupperware is fine too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conventional granola is made with oats and typically has a lot of added sugar, so it’s not a keto-friendly option. However, keto granola uses nuts, seeds, and low carb sweeteners to simulate the same taste and texture. You should still pay close attention to the carb count.
These keto granola clusters make an excellent healthy breakfast or snack. They are low carb and packed with healthy fats, antioxidants, and fiber. It’s a delicious way to satisfy that craving for crunch!
This recipe for keto granola has 6.5g of carbs and 3.7g of fiber per serving. That means it has 2.8g net carbs.
Store this granola on the counter in a covered container for up to 10 days. Because it has no eggs or other perishable ingredients, it can be stored at room temperature.
More crunchy keto snacks
Keto Candied Pecans
These easy Keto Candied Pecans are the perfect crunchy, salty-sweet snack. They take only 5 ingredients and you can make them in your slow cooker or on the stovetop. They make a great last minute gift too!
Keto Cheese Crackers
Make easy Keto Cheese Crackers with only 5 ingredients! Crispy, salty, and deliciously cheesy, they taste like your favorite snack crackers but with a fraction of the carbs.
Keto Granola Bars
These easy keto granola bars are sweet, salty, and delicious. Chockfull of healthy nuts and seeds, they’re one of my favorite keto snacks!
Keto Granola Clusters Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup (129 g) pecan halves
- 1 cup (85 g) flaked coconut
- 1/2 cup (71.5 g) almonds
- 1/2 cup (74 g) pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) salt
- 1/3 cup (75.67 g) butter
- 1/4 cup (45.5 g) brown sugar replacement
- 1/4 cup (45.5 g) powdered Swerve Sweetener
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) vanilla extract or maple extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300ºF and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a food processor, combine the pecans, coconut, almonds, pumpkin seeds, and salt. Process until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. A few larger pieces are okay.
- In a large saucepan over low heat, combine the butter and sweeteners. Whisk until the butter is melted and the sweeteners are mostly dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Stir in the nut mixture into the butter mixture until well combined. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan and spread out evenly. Top with waxed paper or parchment and press down firmly and evenly to a uniform thickness.
- Bake 20 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. Remove and let cool completely, then break into large chunks with your hands.
- Store on the counter in an airtight container for up to a week.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.
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So yummy, crunchy and salty-sweet! Thank you for the recipe! My batch turned out great. I switched out the pumpkin seeds for walnuts. And followed your advice and took the edges off and out of the oven when they started to get browner than the middle. Can’t wait to try it with lo-carb yogurt!
AMAZING!!! Thank you for the recipe =]
Wow, These are absolutely delicious!!! Thank You for this Wonderful Crunchy Sweet Snack!
Uhm, this didn’t even last 48 hours in my house! Unquestionably the best snack ever made. You are a true culinary goddess and I worship you.
Wow, that’s a glowing review, thank you!
This is absolutely my very most favorite thing right now. Have made it several times and, for me, maple is the best flavoring. Love to crumble it in a bowl and cover with heavy cream for breakfast. Thank you so much for your fabulous recipes,
So glad you like it! It’s hard to resist.
So incredibly good! Make this now!
I love everything your videos show. I love this recipe so much, just a life saviour. Best quick snack ever!!
Caroline
Sounds and looks delicious.
Would it work with just Swerve Granular Sugar?
Gill
Hi! I’m going to be making these this weekend! I have swerve confectioners sugar, however I do not have their brown sugar substitute. Do you think it would be OK to use the Monk fruit gold? I believe the Monk fruit gold is there version of a brown sugar substitute.
Yes, that should be fine.
What if you don’t have brown sugar substitute at all. I have powdered swerve. Is there a substitute for brown sugar swerve?
You can use powdered Swerve and a teaspoon of molasses to get the right flavour and colour.
This is a stand up double. But I’m considering adding some of that corn extract flavoring stuff. That would make it a home run.
My friend and i are both on Keto – we share various snacks we make. She made this and wow!!! Heaven!
I made it but i used a magic bullet style food processor to mix the nuts and my granola didnt get hard? I kept it in the oven long but just very oily and i used 1 cup of butter called for double recipe. What did i do wrong 🙁
Not sure what happened, to be honest. It’s hard to say. Did you use the same sweetener I did?
hi – yes i did – powdered erythritol – i think the issue was the food processor – i used a bullet type machine and it quickly but it pulverized the nuts within a couple of seconds.
i think next time i am going to put all ingredients in a ziplock bag and hit with my mallet (aka meat tenderizer) – it tasted very good but did not look like yours at all which look like much bigger pieces, and i had to keep in the oven at least an additional 20 minutes
My friend and i are both on Keto – we share various snacks we make. She made this and wow!!! Heaven!
I made it but instead of vanilla i added maple extract and a teaspoon of cinnamon to the butter mixture.
Smelled like apple crisp in the oven
Yum!
WOW! Just made theis and it it OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! Love it from the moment I put it in my mouth!!! Was doing a happy dance!!! Used sunflower seeds instead of pumpkin seeds cause thats what I had, but man o man, this is a favorite!!! Can’t wait to try in on low carb yogurt!!! Thanks so much for this recipe! Plan on making it often!!!!!!
OMG. This is sinfully delicious. Besides topping my morning yogurt, imagine it on keto ice cream. I used sunflower seeds instead pumpkin seeds and baked five minutes longer. I love all your recipes, Carolyn.
These are the perfect snack. So good.
This was way too easy to make, as for the portion size, also wayyyy too small! since I made it last night, I kept on ‘tasting’ about a quarter of the whole batch… less than a day has passed and I cannot stop tasting it ???? that is how spot on the balance between sweet and salty it is. Even though my powdered sweetener was part xylitol and I used erythritol with some molasses for ‘brown’ , it worked out sufficiently crisp for me. Thank you for a great recipe once again!
This recipe is perfect for back to school!
Help! I made this recipe today…bought Swerve brown and powdered sugars. Followed your recipe exactly. It tastes great, but it is not at all crisp and is very buttery. I used 1 stick of Kerry Gold butter. Where did I go wrong? I am putting it back in the oven, as it is really too soggy to enjoy ????
Well, if it’s soggy, then it isn’t baked through. Perhaps you didn’t spread it out enough in the pan? Putting it back into the oven is exactly the right thing to do and you could leave it in a low temp oven for a while. 175F would help dry it out.
I just made this again today. So yummy and it came out nice and crunchy this time! I did reduce the butter by about 1.5 TBLS and was quite generous with the amount of nuts. I used maple flavoring. I really pressed it down firmly and baked for a full 30 minutes. This will become a regular recipe for me! Thank you Carolyn.
So glad to hear it!
Can I totally omit any sweetners?
No, it won’t crisp up. Sorry.