This healthy peanut butter granola is a deliciously sweet and crunchy make-ahead breakfast or snack with just 9 pantry ingredients! Plus, it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and optionally refined sugar-free!
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F ( 120 degrees C ). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
In a large bowl, combine the oats, walnuts, flax meal, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well.
In a medium saucepan, combine the peanut butter, brown sugar, applesauce, and canola oil. Heat over medium and stir, just until ingredients are well-combined. Remove from heat, add the vanilla and stir again.
Pour the peanut butter mixture over the oat mixture and combine thoroughly.
Divide the granola between baking sheets, spreading evenly. Bake for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes, until the granola is golden and feels dry.
Allow to cool completely and store in an air-tight container.
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Notes
Experiment with add-ins: With so many options, have fun experimenting to find your favorite flavor combinations.
Don’t overcrowd the pan: If you add too much, it won’t toast evenly and may not become crunchy. Likewise, not adding enough means the homemade granola won’t form clusters.
Let it cool completely before breaking it apart: It firms up as it cools and becomes sturdy. This is particularly important if you want clusters.
Adjust the sweetness: Increase/reduce the sugar or even use a sugar-free option.