Crunchy, chewy, nutty, and sweet. This vanilla almond butter protein granola makes a nutritious and delicious breakfast or snack!
I feel like it’s been forever since I’ve posted a recipe! But since I tend to do most of my baking/cooking/experimenting on the weekends — and I was off gallivanting in Vegas on the last one — I didn’t manage to get any good eats up for you last week. My bad. But I’ll try to make it up to you this week, okay? Okay.
Today’s recipe combines two of my current obsessions — these soft and chewy granola bars (which is a recipe I’ve made at least 20+ times), and cereal. Basically, today’s recipe is those bars in cereal form. In other words, granola…
Almond Butter Protein Granola, to be more exact. And if you’re wondering why I couldn’t just crumble up one of my bars and enjoy it with some milk or yogurt, the answer is because the texture is completely different — which is kind of a big deal to a texture freak like me. Whereas the bars are softer and chewier, the granola is denser and crunchier… but not to the point where you feel like you’re in danger of cutting your gums on a jagged edge. Just crunchy enough.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m super picky when it comes to textures — sometimes even pickier than I am with tastes. When I want something crunchy, it has to be the right kind of crunchy; when I want something chewy, it has to be the right kind of chewy — catch my drift? I also prefer more complex textures over simple uniform ones, which is why every bowl of cereal I eat has around 3 or 4 different cereals mixed into it. But that’s a whole other story for a whole other day. Back to today’s granola. Did I mention it’s loaded with clusters?
It’s also a texture freak’s dream. The individual oat/granola pieces are crunchy, while the honey/almond butter/protein coating is slightly chewy — it’s basically the best of both worlds. Oh, and it doesn’t taste half bad either 😉
It’s also gluten-free, made without any refined sugars or unhealthy oils, and has a nice little protein boost thanks to the addition of protein powder — which you can easily omit if you don’t have any on hand; but it does add to both the nutrition and flavour profile. You can also easily make it vegan by replacing the honey with maple syrup and using a plant-based protein powder and dairy-free chocolate chips (I like Enjoy Life brand). And if you don’t like chocolate chips, you can sub those out for raisins… just be sure to add them after baking so you don’t end up with little burnt raisin turds in your cereal. Not that I would know or anything.
But hey, look! Delicious granola! Enjoy 😀
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Vanilla Almond Butter Protein Granola
- Total Time: 26 mins
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup almond butter
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 cup rolled oats
- 1 serving vanilla protein powder (optional)
- 2 Tbsp. ground flax
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add almond butter and honey, stirring until the almond butter is melted and fully combined with the honey. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Remove from heat and add oats, protein powder (if using), flax, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well and use a spatula to ensure that all of the oats are well coated.
- Spread the granola mixture over a baking sheet, leaving as many clusters as you want, and bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven, stir, and bake for another 8 minutes, or until lightly golden.
- Let cool completely before adding chocolate chips and transferring to a storage container. The granola will still be slightly soft when it comes out of the oven, but it will harden up as it sits at room temperature and cools.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 16 mins
Burnt raisin terds are never a good thing, haha!
I’m in love with this recipe!! Anything with vanilla almond butter is a win in my book and then you went and made the textures all crunchy and chewy and dreamy. I can’t wait to give it a try!
Serves 8?! Pshhh, serves 2 😉 Heheheh! Especially with chocolate and almond butter in the mix! Looks delicious lady – I hope you have a relaxing weekend coming up so you can get back into the kitchen for some baking and cooking!
I have been around the block with protein powders, but after trying SO many… I choose Cellucor over ALL of them. I use protein powder as a “creamer” for my morning coffee because it gets the protein in me without feeling like I’m trying to be a body builder and shaking it in a cup. Lol My favorite of all time is the peanut butter marshmallow flavor. I mean, you’d probably break out in millions of hives and possibly keel over but I assure you it’s delicious! haha!
YUM! I’ve made 3 batches of granola in 3 days… oops #sorrynotsorry. I’m not really smitten with any of them, though- looks like I’ll have to try this recipe out next (likely sans protein powder, as I can’t find a vegan brand that doesn’t taste like swamp water). Thanks for sharing!
http://www.youtube.com/sparklesandsuch26
Looks very tasty. I wonder if you could use peanut butter and come out with same result?
You could probably use any nut butter you wanted. I just avoid peanut because of my allergies.
I’m oohing and ahhing over your pictures like cahhhraaaazy! So gorg. This would be divine with some chilli almond milk and a fat spoon!
This (obviously) sounds amazing to me since it reminds me of my one true love: Justin’s Vanilla AB! 😉
ooohhh I love the crunchy/ chewy duality. And i love the chocolate-i always love that part:) I’ve been trying to become more conscious of gluten lately- i can’t claim to be gluten free yet, but i’m certainly eating it less, and I’m noticing a difference in how i feel.
Okay, I need to make this asap, and I think I will. I mean, granola is just perfect, and you can add it to so many things, so why not??
Since you know I can’t make granola bars (or any other kind of bars) without them falling apart, this is the recipe for me! I love the taste but hate that mine always crumble as soon as I take a bite. May as well just start with them crumbly!
DYIIIING pinning right this second, it looks AMAZE! I’ve never thought of using protein powder in my granola… right now I’m testing Vega. I like it so far. What type do you use?
I use Proteins+ by Genuine Health — http://it-matters.com/store/proteins
I’m not sure if I’ve ever tried the Vega proteins, but I do like their smoothie blends.
Yum! I love home made granola!
Vanilla seems to be the flavor of choice for a lot of people lately. It looks really good. Honestly, I’m not a liquid calorie kind of person so I always need that crunch if I’m having a yogurt or something too.
I totally get you with the textures thing. For instance, I like my smoothies doughy thick, not icy thick. Does that make sense? Well, I think it would make sense to the girl who created my favorite oatmeal cookie dough smoothie recipe!
I have yet to make homemade granola, but this is definitely on my list of to-do’s!
I know -exactly- what you mean about doughy thick — that’s how I like mine as well 🙂
Mmmm all my favorites in one- vanilla, almond butter, oats & chocolate chips <3! I know I've said it so much in the past but I can't help to repeat myself- your pictures are outstanding, Amanda! It's been far too long since I last made a batch of granola, but that needs to change…I need a new snack option! As breakfast usually comes post-workout, I have started to regularly add protein powder to my smoothie for an extra boost- I'm still hooked on the Sunwarrior Warrior Blend (vanilla flavor)!
Yummm! Looks like I have all the ingredients in my kitchen! I’m definitely not a fan of granola that feels like its going to cut my gums haha this look delicious!
this looks faaantastic! i LOVE vanilla flavoring!
Yessss this sounds amazing!
Yum! Def going to make this! : )
You had me at the first sentence “Crunchy, chewy, nutty, and sweet.”. I already see myself consuming handfuls after handfuls of this stuff. I totally think it’s acceptable to blame it on the twins for wanting it though 🙂 Haha!
I know I haven’t commented lately, and I am so terribly sorry. I hope all is well on your end – esp. with the military man. Fingers crossed you’ll be able to see him soon XOXO
You’ve been busy with other exciting things in your life. Congrats again, lovely <3
I just made homemade granola (pumpkin spice, from the Chioosing Raw cookbook) for the first time, and it was soooo easy (despite slightly burning it). I can’t believe I never attempted it before.
Anyway, this version looks spectacular, and you can bet it will be next on my list.
I like how simple and easy this is to make! It will taste so good with some yogurt!
ALLLL the clusters for me please!! My favorite part of granola – actually, I rarely eat granola and if, I just pick out the clusters and leave the rest. People like me 🙂
Oh, and burnt raisins. LOL. I swear, I almost lost a tooth cause of one of these.
Protein Powder – Growing Naturals is definitely my fave!
YUM! I love granola but don’t often buy it because like other cereals, I’ll eat it (pretty much non-stop) until it’s GONE! But I do love it, though I too am picky and haven’t had success making it myself before… :-/
I’ve been hunting for a granola recipe for awhile now. Excited to try this! Also, your photographs are beautiful!
I LOVE your soft and chewy granola bars, so if these are good in a different way, I’ll have to give them a shot. The pictures are gorgeous!
Do you have a thing for granola? Because I swear I’ve seen a lot of other granola recipes on your blog!
Nope! This is actually the first granola recipe I’ve ever posted. I do have a bunch of recipes that use oats and almond butter though.
This recipe looks great! I need some crunch in the morning with my yogurt or even in my protein smoothie. This would make a great topping.
I love granola, I’m really picky when it comes to texture too. I’ve tried making granola at home once before but somehow it never happened again. I think it was too crunchy I ended up hurting myself. But this granola, with vanilla, almond butter and chocolate? And recipe approved by a fellow texture freak? I’ll have to give it another shot!
I don’t use protein powder myself. But I use kinako, which is powdered roasted soy beans which is basically like an all natural protein powder, right?
Thanks for another great recipe, can’t wait to try it!
Oh, I just made a very similar ‘almond butter granola’ over the weekend! I love how granola is SO easy to make! 🙂 I’ll have to try your recipe!
I want to say I have made my own granola because it seems like something I have done but can’t recall when it was lol…I don’t use protein powder. I may be the only blogger out there not to use the stuff but it never appealed to me.
This looks pretty dang delicious – and I don’t even like granola! But with all that AB and chocolate – this is making my taste buds tingly! 🙂
I use protein powder somewhat regularly. I like MRM 100% whey in vanilla. It’s yummy in oats!
This looks amazing! I ran out of almond butter a while ago and this is giving me the kick I need to go get some more.
I have to confess I’ve never made my own homemade granola. I keep saying I will, but….you know how these things usually go haha.
😆 I know -exactly- what you mean. That’s what I’m currently going through with making my own almond butter 😉
I love making my own granola! I love adding protein too for a little extra staying power. My favourite is hemp protein powder. However me and the J man are thinking about getting some flavoured ones too! I saw a vanilla chai one recently and it got me excited – oh the small things… Recipe looks great Amanda. I am loving almond butter way more then peanut now. That and cashew butter have knocked the old pb off top spot!
” I am loving almond butter way more then peanut now. ” <-- that makes my allergy-ridden heart all sorts of happy 😉 And vanilla is always my favourite flavour for protein powders... A vanilla chai sounds amazing!
I used to be such a granola junkie pre paleo! I have bought some grain free granola to sprinkle on cereal but haven’t tried my own recipe yet. Gluten free is a must for me because I’m sensitive to it. Looks like a great recipe 🙂
You’re right this is the perfect snack! Right before I work out I need a quick pick me up and you just gave me the answer. Thanks.
Mmmmm anything combining almond butter and chocolate chips is a winner to me! I usually put together my own trail mix everyday for on the go snacking and I’ve been including store-bought granola. I’d love to try your recipe and include some homemade goodness for next week 🙂 thanks for sharing!
Yum! Love clusters! Have you tried sprinkling some of this over your morning oats? I love having a little extra crunch in my bowl of oatmeal. 😉
I’ve never tried doing it with this recipe, but I have sprinkled cereal over hot oats before, and omigosh — texture dream 😀
Hi Amanda!
Great recipe. Which protein powder do you use? I currently use one that I am not really happy with. It is on the gritty side. Want to change it up, but at the same time don’t want to spend ++ when I am not sure about the product.
Thanks!
Marianne
Marianne, I use Proteins+ from Genuine Health — http://it-matters.com/store/proteins
The vanilla is my favourite, and I’ve never had a problem with it not blending or being gritty.