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
Jeffrey says
I like Bob’s quinoa and quinoa flour. It gives me a nice boost since I run a lot and eat very little meat.
Edia says
Im exploring new flours and would love to try one of Bob’s flours…particularly the Garbanzo Bean Flour!
cindy says
I am a diabetic who had gestational diabetes during my third pregnancy. However, I like Bobs’ Red Mill on FB because that is the least of my challenges. My two daughters are vegan and one is sensitive to Pnut Butter and the other is allergic to Sundflower Seeds. Now they are a challenge to cook for. Especially since one is prediabetic and the other is hypoglycemic it is a real challenge to keep them full of protein under their dietary constraints.
Carrie Dickson says
Bob’s is 15 minutes away from my house and they have AWESOME bulk pricing at the mill. If you are ever in Portland, you must have breakfast there. It’s ahhhhhmazing.
cindy says
I look forward to seeing your posts on FB because your picstures always look so yummy and I know they wll be lo carb.
Lisa Hiatt says
Well before i went low carb, I loved Bob’s pancake mix. Now I use the almond flower, coconut flour and I think I have some xanthum gum…I haven’t tried that to thicken yet…but heard it can be used for that. I will have to try that for gravy! This recipe looks fabulous! I Can’t WAIT to try it!
Jamie says
I like Bob’s Red Mill Almond meal, but all of the products I’ve tried have been great. Just starting the low-carb, gluten free way of life.
Jamie says
I follow you on Pinterest
Jamie says
I follow you on facebook.
Jamie says
I follow you on twitter.
Kristi says
I recently discovered your blog and I LOVE it! I am not gluten intolerant but am always watching my weight and am concerned about carb and sugar intake so I love to try your recipes! I recently did the carmel peanut butter bars and they were to die for. I just printed this granola recipe and intend on trying it! Thanks for sharing!
leslie says
I don’t have any experience with this company yet. I hope I win, so I can try it.
Steph says
Thanks for the recipe! I am in no way gluten intolerant but since January of this year have removed most gluten from my diet because of inspiration from my best friend. She is gluten intolerant and me, being an avid baker, wanted to prove to her that you can still eat wonderful baked treats without getting sick. My 7 month conversion in baking has been challenging (and fun!) and I have to say that I really enjoy Bob’s Red Mill brownie mix–it works great for stuffed brownies! I also have tried the almond meal, xanthan gum, white rice flour, tapioca flour & GF oats.
leslie says
I follow you via email. Don’t have the newfangled accounts.
Lulu says
I’m in love with the almond meal.
Eric says
Wow! LC granola… who’d a thunk? Kudo’s to you for coming up with it. Bob’s Red Mill is the kind of company we need to see more of, but unfortunately don’t. I love their almond flour, Hazelnut meal, and coconut flour. As an Outward Bound alumnus, I have fond (though distant) memories of chilly mornings scarfing down bowls of granola, and can’t wait to do so again.
Thanks.
kim@hungryhealthygirl says
I liked Bob’s Red Mill on fb.
kim@hungryhealthygirl says
I follow Bob’s Red Mill on twitter.
kim@hungryhealthygirl says
I follow you on twitter.
kim@hungryhealthygirl says
I follow you on fb.