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
MB says
*love*love*love this recipe. It’s my “go-to” granola recipe for Keto yogurt and granola, which had been something I avoided early on in my low carb journey because of all the carbs in BOTH. Now, with Keto Ratio Coconut yogurt and Carolyn’s granola, I can indulge my peanut butter, granola and yogurt habits to my heart’s content!
Barbara says
This is quickly becoming a staple in our household, both my husband and I love it! We just got back from a trip to Costa Rica where we purchased fresh cinnamon on a spice tour so I added some of it today… perfect! Thank you!
Kaitlin says
Could you switch out the butter/oil with something else? Do you think more peanut butter could work? Or apple sauce (I know not keto)? I don’t like the fat content of oils/butter.
Carolyn says
Sorry, no. I don’t think that would work well. Feel free to cut back on it but for it to become crunchy, you need a little oil.
Susan says
I’m definitely interested in making this. In looking at your ingredient list, it occurred to me that the granola would probably keep longer if I use coconut oil in place of the butter. Since I’m the only one who eats keto granola, and don’t eat it every day, longer keeping time would be a plus.
Barbara says
I’ve made this twice in a week, it’s a big hit with both my husband and myself. Thank you so much, I needed something crunchy for the mornings and this is very easy to make.
Dianne Toniolo says
Carolyn, I loved this recipe. It was simple to make with easy to obtain ingredients, clear instructions, I don’t know why I’ve waited so long to make this! Thank you for posting this, since I find keto breakfasts a challenge to make. You can only eat so many egg dishes…thank you for taking us along your keto journey, I am learning so much through your blog.🥰
Rachael Garnett says
OMG!!! The best granola ever and I have tried a few for sure!! I was ready to eat it before I baked it… I used butter and coconut and smooth peanut butter. I don’t think I can hold on until breakfast. Thank you
Deborah says
Just made this, it is delicious! It’s going to be a go to for breakfast and snacks!
Carolyn says
Enjoy!
Dalton Musgrave says
I’ve made this delicious recipe mixed with your equally yummy cereal for quite awhile now and enjoyed it with every bite!
Carla Keeter says
You are freaking awesome! I went from 218 to 145 lbs in 2020 but edged back up to 170 when I lost focus. I never unsubscribed from your mailing list and now that I’m focused again I am back to it with this awesome recipes. I also bought neat storage containers and organized my baking cabinet. As a former marketing VP turned middle school math teacher, I suggest you reach out to those companies for sponsorship. When you go keto you start using a lot of different ingredients especially those that require dry storage. Also, people tend to want to organize all the parts of their life when they are getting their bodies straight.
Silvija says
It has been my go to for a few years now. Best breakfast granola
Debbie says
Sounds great and I will be making it very soon! I have purchased ready-made and it’s always too sweet for me. It’s nice to know that now I have the perfect recipe and I could adjust the amount of sweetener to my own taste if needed.
Carolyn says
Exactly!
PJB says
This looks divine. Would they work as bars if I scored them as such after the second press?
Carolyn says
I don’t think they are going to hold together well enough. But I do have a granola bar recipe, if you just type that into the search box.
silvia says
I haven’t tried this yet but is there a substitute to shredded coconut? I hate coconut texture but love coconut milk.
Carolyn says
Try sliced almonds.
Cindy says
Hi, I just tried this recipe for the first time and honestly I am wondering how you can stay away of it to let it cool down!
I used macadamia instead of almonds, also crème brûlée whey protein powder instead of vanilla.
I think I just found my new obsession!
Thank you for sharing all those delicious recipes!
Natasha says
This healthy granola turned out so delicious and I can’t believe that it’s healthier than most granolas out there. I can’t believe how easy it is to make a homemade granola.
Samantha says
This granola was so easy to make and my kids (and hubby) gobbled it down! Store-bought granola is so expensive so I’ll definitely be making it myself from now on…thanks for the great recipe and inspiration!
katerina @ diethood.com says
Oh wow, this is so fabulous! I love the flavors!
Deanna says
Hi! Very excited to try this recipe. Just wondering if I can use whey protein (unflavored) and add a bit of vanilla extract, rather than the vanilla protein? Thanks in advance!
Carolyn says
Yes but you may want to add a little additional sweetener as well.
Diane says
Will Vanilla Whey Protein Isolate work? Don’t know what the difference is .
Carolyn says
Haha, neither do I! Yes, it should work… honestly in cooking and baking, they work the same.
Carol Lettington says
With regards to the difference between whey protein and whey protein isolate- in a nutshell the latter is isolated protein through processing. The difference between whey protein and whey protein isolate lies in the amount of protein contained per scoop of protein powder. Whey Isolates are processed and filtered differently than whey protein so that the former contains approximately 90-percent protein per scoop, with the majority of the fat and lactose removed. When lactose is removed, it results the whey isolate left has lower carbohydrates (lactose is a milk sugar – Lact denotes a connection to milk, while the suffix -ose (/oʊz, oʊs/) is used in biochemistry to form the names of sugars. ). Read more about whey protein and whey protein isolates here:)
https://www.fitandwell.com/features/whey-protein-vs-whey-isolate-which-protein-powder-is-right-for-you
I appreciate your great work, Carolyn!