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.
Video
Tracy says
I just made a batch of this granola and it is delicious. I only had choc protein powder so I used that. I have found that this is unbelievably good on ice-cream. I imagine it would make a great cheesecake base too…..definitely going to try that 🙂
Thanks
Love the blog.
Amy Cheng says
Ground Flax Seed!!!!
Michelle says
How do you pick just one favorite when it comes to Bob’s Red Mill? Almond Flour–great shortbread, Golden Flax Meal–a must for edible MiM’s, Coconut Flour–a great substitute for cornmeal…the list goes on and on.
Patti says
I found your blog today and am so happy. I use Bob’s Red Mill’s items for so many things. Thank you for this Granola recipe as this is what I put in my morning Fage.
Karlie says
This seems like the perfect recipe to make for my boyfriend and I as we are kick starting our diet! I love the site and will definitely be referencing it more for some healthy low-carb recipes!
Laura says
I love Bob’s Red Mill Cornbread Mix, though I’ll have to change since I’m going low carb now!
Sara says
I love Bob’s Red Mill! My favorite is the Bob’s Red Mill Coconut Flour. 🙂
Berneda says
I use the almond meal and coconut flours for lemon poppy seed muffins I make…delicious!
Amber says
I love Red Mill Almond Meal. I use it for crusts, and for pancakes! Yum!
Stacy Wade says
I am grain free and my son is gluten free, so we really like Bob’s Red Mill Coconut Flour and flax meal. This recipe is right up my alley. I wonder if it can be dehydrated as well. Do you soak your nuts overnight?
I “liked” both your page and Bob’s Red Mill page on facebook as well.
Carolyn says
I think this would work just fine in a dehydrator, although I dont’ know how long you’d have to do it for. I don’t soak my nuts, but I don’t see how that would hurt.
Jan says
Liked Bob’s Red Mill on facebook.
I use the coconut flour, guar gum, and oat bran cereal.
michelle says
I follow bobs on twitter!
Carolyn says
Hi Michelle. Looks like you won one of the giftcards! Please email me at carketch29 (at) yahoo (dot) com with your mailing address. Thanks!
michelle says
I like you on Facebook
michelle says
I follow you on twitter
michelle says
Subscribed and subscribed again, so that even without Buzz, I won’t miss a post! I would love it if you would follow me too!
michelle says
Yum yum yum! My fave product is ground flax, by far!
Russell at Chasing Delicious says
What a fun giveaway! It is hard for me to narrow it down. I love just about all of their flours!
Beverly Hingle says
Have all the ingredients, cant wait to make this granola! Thanks for recipe and congratulations on all you’ve accomplished!
Hannah says
Just discovered your blog, awesome! I’m gradually transitioning over to eating low-carb and gluten-free, but it’s been a bit tricky as I’m also 99% vegan. 🙂 This recipe should be perfect for me, however. I LOVE Bob’s Red Mill Coconut and Almond flours, I use these all the time. . . and I also have a bag of BRM Flax Seeds, X Gum, GF hot cereal, and tapioca flour in my cupboard right now. Thanks so much!! -Hannah
Carolyn says
I can imagine that being vegan and going low carb is pretty tough. This recipes would easily be something you can make over, just putting in coconut oil for the butter.
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
I like Bobs Red Mill on Facebook
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
I follow Bobs Red Mill on Twitter