This low carb granola is an easy and delicious sugar-free breakfast option. Packed with healthy fats, protein, and plenty of crunchy goodness, it’s sure to satisfy that craving for cereal.
This low carb peanut butter granola was one of the first recipes I created for All Day I Dream About Food, almost 10 years ago now. I daresay it’s one of the first keto cereal recipes ever. There were so few of us writing recipes back then!
It’s certainly a recipe that has withstood the test of time, as it remains one of my most popular.
Even in my own house! My whole family loves this grain-free and sugar-free cereal recipe, and I make it at least once a month. It never lasts longer than a few days.
Believe me, keto breakfast never looked, or tasted, so good!
Grain-Free Granola Love
I’ve been making homemade granola since I was a young teen. My mother did a number of Outward Bound courses after her divorce, including a mountaineering course in the Canadian Rockies and a dog-sledding course somewhere in the Yukon. All very important in her quest to become a confident, self-assured single woman in her forties.
But all her kids really cared about is that she brought home a spectacular granola recipe that we ate on an almost daily basis. It was hearty, filling, and absolutely delicious.
And completely jam-packed with sugar, carbs, and grains.
So when I embarked on a low carb diet, I thought I was saying goodbye to granola forever.
But the more I played around with my low carb ingredients, the more I realized that crunchy granola didn’t have to be made with oats. Chopped nuts, flaked coconut, and healthy seeds could mimic that same texture in a much more keto-friendly way.
How To Make Low Carb Granola
It’s astonishingly easy to make your own low carb granola. Here are my best tips for getting it right.
Mixed nuts and seeds
If you think granola can only be made with oats, think again! Chopped nuts and seeds are perfect for making that crunchy breakfast treat. The combination you use doesn’t matter much, although I do recommend using a mix for better texture. I like a combination of almonds, pecans, and sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
Shredded coconut or almond flour
Adding in something with a finer texture, such as shredded coconut or almond flour, helps bind the granola together a little more. You can also use flax seed meal or ground hemp seeds.
Stir in some nut butter
This is an egg-free recipe so stirring in a thick nut butter helps to hold the other ingredients together and create clusters. You don’t have to use peanut butter, as any nut butter will do.
Consider your sweetener
It’s important to understand that different keto sweeteners will give you different results. If you want a crunchy texture, you need to use Swerve or another erythritol based sweetener. Allulose, BochaSweet or xylitol will make your granola much softer. If that’s okay by you, then go for it!
For a better understanding of how all the various sugar alternatives work in baking and cooking, check out my Ultimate Guide to Keto Sweeteners.
Can you skip the protein powder?
You can skip it but I recommend it for both flavor and a boost of nutrition. You have plenty of options, since you can really use any protein powder here. I have noticed, however, that collagen protein makes the end result a little less crispy and more chewy.
How to make it crunchy
Aside from the ingredients I specified above, the other important trick to getting crunchy low carb granola is how firmly you press it down. You will notice in the instructions that I have you press it down firmly before and during baking. This helps it clump and stick together, and bake crisp against the hot pan.
You also need to let it cool completely after baking. Keto baked goods always continue to firm up and crisp up as they cool.
Can you make this dairy-free?
You bet! Switch out the butter for any non-dairy oil and away you go.
How do you serve low carb granola?
The same way you serve conventional granola! I like mine with heavy cream but it’s great with non dairy milk too.
And sometimes we just like grabbing a handful of dry granola to snack on.
How long does low carb granola last?
The best part about a recipe like this one is that it’s good for several weeks. It has no eggs or anything that spoils quickly and it’s baked until it’s very dry. So it’s fine on your counter in a covered container for up to two weeks or possibly longer.
That is assuming, of course, that your household doesn’t devour it in a few short days like mine does!
More delicious keto cereal recipes
- Keto Cinnamon Crunch Cereal
- Very Berry Keto Granola
- Nut Free Keto Chocolate Cereal
- Keto Granola Clusters
- Keto Oatmeal
- Keto Paleo Granola
Low Carb Peanut Butter Granola
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups almonds
- 1 ½ cups pecans
- 1 cup shredded coconut or almond flour
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- ⅓ cup granulated Swerve Sweetener
- ⅓ cup vanilla whey protein powder (or egg white protein powder)
- ⅓ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup butter (use coconut oil for dairy-free)
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300F and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a food processor, process the almonds and pecans until they resemble coarse crumbs with some larger pieces. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in theshredded coconut, sunflower seeds, sweetener, and vanilla protein powder.
- In a microwave safe bowl, melt the peanut butter and butter together. Pour the melted peanut butter mixture over the nut mixture and stir well, tossing lightly. Stir in the water - at this point, the mixture should begin to clump toether.
- Spread the mixture out evenly on the prepared baking sheet and press it down firmly with your hands. Bake 30 minutes, stirring halfway through and re-pressing it down. Remove and let cool competely.
- Break up any large clumps with your hands.
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I liked you on Facebook (how did I not already?? Gasp)
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
I actually do love their flaxseed meal.
Alisa says
I battle severe Fibromyalgia/CFS and have found that following a low carb diet helps ease the pain. I ran across your FaceBook site and have tried quite a few of the recipes there and also from this blog. Great info, which generally helps keep me curb my cravings of carbs. I use a lot of Bob’s Red Mill products. What a Blessing your site and their products are.
Now…to find a site that sells willpower to keep me on track! :o)
Carolyn says
LOL, if you find a place that sells willpower, let me know! I could use some of that at times. I am fascinated that low carb helps battle Fybromyalgia. Do you follow gluten-free as well? Makes me wonder if gluten has anything to do with it…
Alisa says
While doing the low carb, I avoid all wheat products, which of course are rich in carbs ;o( I’ve wondered also about the gluten factor. Not overly sure of the correlation of the Fibro/CFS relief via a low carb diet, as there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the peaks and valleys in their symptoms, nor could my specialist that I was referred to by Mayo Clinic. For myself, I seem to feel better for the most part while sticking strictly to the very low carb per day. I tend to use Almond and Coconut flours to replace the wheat flour.
I have done some research to see if anyone has noticed the same relief and came up with a few docs/clinics that have wrote on the subject. Dr. Paul St Amand has stated that patients with fibromyalgia tend to have increased carbohydrate cravings and low carbohydrate diets may reduce their pain and fatigue.. http://www.ei-resource.org/articles/related-conditions-articles/hypoglycemia-%11-dr.-st.-amand/
Hopefully, one day they will find a cure. In the meantime… ;o)
Deborah says
I adore their gluten-free line. It’s been a lifesaver since I discovered that I had a gluten sensitivity. I particularly adore their gf chocolate chip cookie mix for obvious reasons
nik says
My latest favorite is superyummy tri color pearl couscous. Thanks!
Eric | Slow Carb Diet Experiments says
I’m a big fan of their unsweetened coconut flakes! Great for baking!
Debbie R. says
Like Bob’s Red Mill on FB!
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Liked All Day I Dream About Food on FB!
Debbie R. says
Love Bob’s Steel Cut Oats!!
domestic diva says
I like their instant oatmeal.
Kel says
I use their ground flax seed – so much better than trying to grind it yourself.
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says
I love their ground flax!
Jordan D says
I follow Bob’s Red Mill on twitter, too
@j_mosh
Jordan D says
I like Bob’s Red Mill on facebook
Jordan D says
I follow you on pinterest
pinterest.com/jmosh
Jordan D says
I follow you on twitter
@j_mosh
Jordan D says
I like you on facebook
Jordan D says
I love Bob’s Red Mill! Their hot cereals and milled flax seed are the best!