Almond Butter Granola

I feel like I’ve been coming and going a lot lately, which has been nice, but I’m ready to get back to some sense of normalcy. 

I do best when I’m in a routine, and for the past few months I haven’t had one. 🙂

If anything has been a routine this summer, it’s been making batch after batch of this almond butter granola!  And obviously, that means I’ve been eating bowl after bowl. 

That sounds like a routine to me. 🙂

Originally, I didn’t intend to post this almond butter granola recipe.  I blasted it on my Instagram stories several times, however, and so many people asked me for the recipe that I decided that I needed to post it.

I guess I should always post something that I make this often, because if I love it that much, you just might too. 🙂

I adapted this recipe from my favorite peanut butter granola, which I adore. I tried it with almond butter, thinking that I probably wouldn’t like it as much, but I ended up liking it even more. 🙂

Why you’ll love this recipe:

• It’s got big, crunchy clusters
• It’s a healthy make ahead breakfast or snack
• It’s minimally sweet, with no refined sugar, and it’s made with only 5 ingredients
• It’s vegan and gluten-free

How to make granola with almond butter

This granola is so easy.  It’s ready in about 30 minutes and you only need one bowl.

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. 
2. Place the almond butter, maple syrup and coconut oil in a medium bowl and microwave for 25-40 seconds until the coconut oil is melted and it’s easy to stir.  Stir until well combined.
3. Stir in the cinnamon and salt, then add the oats and stir until they’re well coated with the almond butter mixture.
4. Pour the granola mixture onto the prepared pan and spread in an even layer, about 1/4″ thick, packing it down well.  Packing it down will help give us those big clusters!
5. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden….do not stir!  Remove from heat and cool completely without stirring.
6. Once cooled, break the granola up into chunks and place in an air tight container at room temperature.

Is homemade granola healthy for you?

Most granola on the shelves at the store are loaded with sugar, preservatives and fat, so it’s best to make it yourself so that you can control the ingredients.

I prefer to use organic rolled oats as they’re free of synthetic pesticides, and use a minimal amount of unrefined sugar for just the right amount of sweetness.

This almond butter granola is whole grain, which makes it a good source of fiber.  It also contains coconut oil and almond butter, which are good sources of fat that will satisfy you and keep you feeling full longer.

Is it cheaper to make your own granola?

Yes!  Most organic granola run about $6 to $8 per bag, so it’s much more cost effective to make granola at home. 

I always buy oats, maple syrup and nut butter in bulk at Costco as we use them daily, so it’s very reasonable to make it myself.  

What to do with healthy almond butter granola

• Pour some into a bowl with your favorite milk and top with fresh fruit, coconut flakes or chocolate chips.
• Sprinkle some granola over your yogurt or make a delicious parfait.
• Eat it by the handful!

Recipe notes

• The almond butter may be substituted with your favorite nut butter or sun butter for a nut-free version.  I recommend using a natural nut butter to keep this granola low in saturated fat, sodium and sugar. 
• If you’re not a fan of coconut oil, replace with your favorite oil.
• This healthy make ahead granola keeps for up to 2 weeks stored in an air tight container at room temperature.
• Change up this recipe by adding my homemade chai spice, cardamom, chocolate chips, coconut or dried fruit.