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
Vicki says
Enough about Bob, lol, this granola is awesome! I made it yesterday, and just had my first bowl with some cream. So good! Thank you!
Jennifer Blake says
Simple, healthy and, most importantly, delicious!
Lindsay Cotter says
We love Bob’s Red Mill!! This granola is definitely a must make!
Cookin Canuck says
I absolutely adore granolas with peanut butter! And I love that you packed this with nuts.
Jennifer Farley says
I’m going to keep this around the house to snack on!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
Breakfast of CHAMPS!
Melissa says
Hi Carolyn! Made this and it was amazing and the whole house smelled like a dream!
Quick question – how long does it keep? Have stored it in an air tight container so far and it really crisps up after cooling down!
Thanks for sharing!
Carolyn says
I’ve kept it for up to a week or so!
Kristy Smith says
Hi! I made this today and it’s quite delicious. I didn’t have protein powder so I just added a bit of almond flour and hemp hearts to make up for it. Turned out nicely but it’s not super crunchy, but a bit soft. Wondering if this is how its supposed to be, if not, would you recommend cooking a bit longer or think its related to the protein powder? Thanks so much!
Carolyn says
No, it should absolutely crisp up as it sits. I don’t think the protein powder would make that much difference, you may need to have baked it a bit longer.
Carolyn says
This is AMAZING!!! I didn’t have sunflower seeds thanks to the monsters that think they need to eat here too lol so I subbed in hemp hearts.
Andi says
Um… yeah. This stuff is dangerous. I’ve been keeping a pint jar of it in the fridge and the rest in the freezer… as if that’s somehow going to slow me down (hahaha…). I love a handful of it cold right out of the jar without any yogurt, milk or cream, in fact I might even like it best straight from the freezer 🙂 Yummm.
Diane says
How do you store the granola and how long will it be good for?
Holly says
I just made a double batch of this. You are brilliant!!!!! It is SO delicious! I think I will be making this on a weekly basis!!!!!!!!
Agness of Run Agness Run says
This is such a perfect breakfast idea which I can’t wait to try. I love such healthy and nutrient-dense recipes! 😉
Holly says
Thank you SO much for this recipe! Granola has always been my weakness and the thing I miss the most after becoming keto. I can’t wait to make this ASAP! Also, I finally bought your cookbook at Costco! YAY!!!!!
Bev says
Hi! I’m definitely going to make this granola! What would you says serving size is-1/2c?
Thanks! Bev
Carolyn says
I am having issues with my recipe card. I put the serving size in yesterday but it disappeared on me! It’s about 1/3 cup.
Bev says
Thanks!!
Bev says
I’d probably want to eat more than that lol
Jennifer Blake says
I’ve been wanting to try homemade granola for a very long time and have always been intimidated by it for some reason. This looks like a perfect protein packed granola that I can use for an easy go to breakfast with my yogurt (which normally doesn’t sustain me very long).
Amber Van Elgort says
Sorry my email address was wrong in the above comment
Amber Van Elgort says
Hello ! I made this granola and it’s great, but how many calories in total are in a serving ? I’m new to Keto and am working on tracking my macros :
Fat?g and Protein?g please? All I see is carbs for nutritional facts. I would love or to add it to my fitness pal. Thanks
Brandie says
Low Carb granola? I know so many people who would LOVE this recipe!
Gerry Speirs says
Sounds like I’d love this!!