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
Kristy says
Can I make this without the whey protein or any other protein powder? If so how much would the macros be then ? Thanks
Carolyn says
You can make it without. I don’t know what the macros are, though. You should be able to calculate that quite easily.
D says
6 Stars really! I love…LOVE this granola. IT’s the best and I know because I’ve made so many. I literally will wake in the morning and say….Granola…MUST have! Your recipes save me. When I started keto, I was following Maria Emmerich’s blog. Her stuff scared me and didn’t taste really good. When I found you I realized keto CAN look different for different people. Your approach is easy and kind. Your stuff is user friendly. You turned me onto Swerve and it’s delish. I just like your approach and appreciate your hard work. My granola is in the oven right now. Thanks for helping me stay on track. I’m a SIBO suffered and found out grains ruin my gut. This eating style is totally doable with your blog!
Carolyn says
Hi D, Thank you so much. I am delighted to hear it. I need to make more granola, now that I think of it!
Destiny says
I just made this. Delicious!!!
Lisa says
Arggg! I did everything like I was supposed to but I forgot to add the water at the end. Maybe it will be ok.
Carolyn says
It should be fine, it just may not clump together as well.
Linda says
Major hit in our family! Making second batch only days after the first. Thank you!
Mary Frances says
With the sunflower seeds, are those hulled or do you throw them in shells and all? I don’t care for the shells but I’ve never seen them sold without them. I might substitute hemp hearts.
Carolyn says
Hulled, sorry! I see the raw seeds all the time at Whole Foods and such.
Margaret Freeman says
It is absurd how good this is with ice cream. I make it once a week now, absolutely one of my favortite keto recipes. Thank you sooooo much
Carolyn says
Wow I’ve never paired it with ice cream but now I need to!
Kim says
Mine didn’t clump together much, maybe too much water? I used the whole 1/4 cup. It tastes amazing though so that’s the main thing. Hubby loves granola but complains about how much sugar is in it. I’m hoping this will satisfy his cravings.
Ronda says
Will this recipe work if I leave out the whey protein?
Carolyn says
Yes it will.
Sharon Mikulec says
I want to make this but don’t have any whey protein powder, can you leave out or substitute it with something else?
Carolyn says
In this recipe, you can leave it out.
Kathy says
Thank you for this recipe. My fiance is just starting a new job and needs a snack he can bring around with him in a baggie . . . and cheese and pepperoni just won’t cut it on the showroom floor 🙂
Please, cause I suck at the math, what it the net carbs per serving?
Thank you again!
Carolyn says
Just subtract the fiber from the total carbs.
Lisa Cowan says
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, No Seriously Thank You for this granola recipe!! My husband and I have gone Keto since the end of March to help him bring down his A1c and it’s been amazing, but one of my favorite breakfasts was low-carb yogurt with granola. Now I can have it again :))
My Q is: how much of a cup does a serving measure? I just made this last night and didn’t have a total measurement before he dug into it! Thanks again!! You’re one of my most reliable recipe sites.
Carolyn says
A serving is about 1/3 cup, which is standard for granola.
Debby says
Does this work with Monk Fruit as a sweetner?
Carolyn says
It should!
Chris says
do you think natural peanut butter would work even tho its not as thick as regular? & to replace the butter with coconut oil?
Carolyn says
yes it will be fine.
Glenna says
Guestimating the serving size to be 1/2 cup? Can you please confirm. Thanks!
Carolyn says
As with most granola, it’s more like 1/3 cup. Very nutrient dense.
Lesley says
I know your recipe is written with butter, but do you think coconut oil or ghee would work? I find it very annoying when someone basically wants to change the whole recipe and then asks the person who posted it if it will turn out ok. I’m definitely not trying to change it because I think it sounds amazing!!! (I just can’t do butter) My 10 year old son has recently discovered his love for granola, but as you said, lots of granola recipes are not healthy at all. Can’t wait to try this one!
Carolyn says
I think it would work well with either and I appreciate your concern about changing the recipe too much! Coconut oil will have more of a strong taste, just keep that in mind.
Molly says
Oooooh, this is SO GOOD and easy! I used unsweetened shredded coconut and vanilla whey powder. I left out the Swerve just for kicks, and it’s still sweet enough for me. Delicious!
Molly says
Forgot to rate it. D’oh!
Cindy says
This is the best doing keto and was craving cereal this was a great fix with almond milk ,my husband and I are hooked on it .
B Felaino says
I LOVE this granola!
Dawn says
I made this a few days ago. I threw in some pumpkin seeds that I had leftover. It was delicious! I love having “cereal” back. I do love my eggs but it’s a nice change and option.