How to Make Granola Clusters

Learn how to make granola clusters with this easy recipe that results in thick crunchy granola clusters with a dash of cinnamon and sweetness. It's a delicious snack to add to cereal, smoothie bowls and more.

Homemade granola is so easy to make, you will wonder why you took so long to make it. After I decided to make my own homemade granola recipe, friends and acquaintances started asking me to sell it. I spent hours baking granola and every now and then I tried new options to create new flavors.

I did a lot of testing to create homemade granola clusters. The clusters are larger pieces of granola that I can easily eat as a snack with my hands. I perfected the recipe and now have the best granola clusters. Even though I no longer sell granola, I share the recipes for you to make it yourself at home. Therefore you don't have to wait for someone else to make it, you can make it as much as you want.

The possible flavor combinations are endless. You can make them with honey, with or without raisins, almonds, chocolate, cinnamon and more. You can add whatever you like to make your own combination of flavors.

Gluten Free Granola

Oats are the base ingredient of any granola. Although oats do not naturally contain gluten, it is important to double check that the brand you are using is certified gluten-free, otherwise it may have gluten due to cross contamination.

For this recipe, I used certified gluten-free oats from Bob's Red Mill. This recipe is gluten free, dairy free, refined-sugar free and can be made vegan.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Super simple to make: You literally just stir the peanut butter and honey together before mixing into the rest of the ingredients. You only need 10 minutes of prep before baking in the oven!
• Made from wholesome ingredients: These clusters are packed with healthy fats and easy to find ingredients.
• Convenient: Granola clusters are a packable snack that is perfect for busy moms on-the-go. They are perfect for sharing with both kids and adults!
• Cheaper than store-bought: Granola is expensive. Making your own at home is an inexpensive, healthier way to enjoy granola.
• Easy to customize: Add things like dried fruit, other nuts or even chocolate chips to make your own combination of ingredients and flavors.

Ingredients You Need

• Oatmeal: Make sure to use old-fashioned oats instead of quick oats. And check to make sure they are certified gluten free. You can find gluten free oats at your local grocery stores.
• Nuts and seeds: You will need almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds for this recipe. Feel free to use any combination of nuts and seeds.
• Peanut butter: Smooth peanut butter is preferred, but you can also use crunchy. Make sure to use natural peanut butter.
• Honey (or pure maple syrup if you are vegan): You can use either natural sweetener for this recipe.
• Coconut (optional): Adds more texture and flavor, but this is entirely optional.
• Cinnamon (optional): This recipe uses ground cinnamon, but you can try other spices like ground ginger, cardamom or nutmeg. Add a few pinches of sea salt if you like salty flavor.

Variations

• Dried fruit: Add dried berries, dried bananas or raisins for more texture and sweet flavor.
• Different nuts and seeds: You can switch out the seeds and nuts for another variety like pistachios, cashews, macadamia nuts, peanuts or pepitas.
• Add chocolate: White chocolate, dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips or chocolate chunks would be a great addition to these granola clusters.
• Add vanilla: If you are looking for more flavor, add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the peanut butter mixture.

Tips For How to Make Granola Clusters

• Make sure the mixture is well coated in honey and peanut butter: It is essential to use one hand to mix everything together, as a spoon is not the same. Massage the mixture well until everything is evenly covered by the wet ingredients.
• Press down the granola before baking: To form the crunchy clusters, we must compact the granola together before baking. To compact, place the mixture on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and press down to flatten it into an even layer with a spatula or the back of a spoon.
• Let the granola cool completely without touching it: When the granola comes out of the oven, it is still warm and soft. It becomes crunchy as it cools. Let it completely cool on the baking sheet after it bakes.
• Break the granola into small or large clusters: After the granola cools on the sheet pan, you can break it into large or small clusters. Large clusters work great for on-the-go snack since they are easier to hold in your hand. While small clusters are best for adding to a bowl with milk or serving in a smooth bowl.

Storage to Keep Granola Crunchy

Granola usually stays fresh for several weeks or even months. However, at home it usually doesn't last more than 1 or 2 weeks.

I'm using Zip Tops to store them. A new product I recently discovered and I love them! They're made of silicone, non-toxic, easy to wash, and handy to have at home or to take with you. We recently went away for the weekend and I brought some granola clusters in them to eat in the car. Unlike glass containers, they're lightweight and won't break, making them super handy for storage and transport.

I recommend that you always store granola in an airtight container so that it stays crispy and fresh longer. A mason jar is also a great option for storage. You can store it at room temperature or in the fridge, depending on your own preference. I usually store it at room temperature, but if it gets damp, store it in the refrigerator so that it gets rid of the moisture and becomes crispy again.

To freeze granola, store it in a freezer safe airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature prior to serving.

How to Eat Granola Clusters

Crunchy homemade granola clusters are a versatile snack that you can enjoy in a variety of ways. Here are a few ideas for serving.

1. Smoothie bowls: Add it to your favorite smoothie bowl.
2. On-the-go snack: The difference between regular granola and granola clusters is that these are easy to eat with your hand because they are in pieces that you can easily grab. The biggest clusters are the best choice for snacking.
3. In a bowl with almond milk: You can use the smaller pieces to eat with your favorite milk. Add fresh berries or sliced bananas for more flavor.
4. Yogurt bowls: Serve the clusters with a dairy-free yogurt for the perfect healthy snack.
5. As a topping for vanilla ice cream: Add texture and more flavor to ice cream by serving with the granola clusters.

Did you try these homemade granola clusters? Leave a recipe rating and review below!