This Monster Cookie Granola is one snack that always wins around our house. Why? The granola is crunchy, clumpy, and loaded with irresistible peanut-buttery chocolate flavor. It’s a totally cravable, sweet + salty combo that always seems to satisfy. The kids love the peanut and M&M mix-ins, and I love the convenience of a pre-portioned baggie that travels where we do. Convenient, delicious, on-the-go snacks…yes please!
How to make your granola “clump”
Homemade granola isn’t a tough recipe to tackle. But, if you’re picky about texture (and mess), you’ll want to pay attention. We love a clumpy granola because it’s easier to hold. (I only go for loose granola when intending to eat it with a spoon.) For clumpy granola, you need the “sticky” factor with the syrup ingredients – which usually means a sweetener with higher solids. When baking, this recipe will spread like one thin, deliciously fragrant, massive cookie – that’s okay! When the granola cools you can break any large clumps into bite-sized pieces. For us, clumpy granola is best for on-the-go snacking…the hubs isn’t a fan of vacuuming loose granola out of car seats. 😉
Smart prep for happier snacking…faster.
We like to make a batch (or double-batch) of granola and prep it for a fast grab while running out the door. Packing this recipe into snack-sized baggies is great for convenience AND great portion control. For even faster snacking, we like to pop a few pre-portioned baggies into the freezer and pull them out as needed.
Packed with so much flavor, our Monster Cookie Granola recipe is good (if we do say so), but my dietitian friends would remind me that granola isn’t exactly a low-cal snack. So, if you’re concerned about the energy load, consider cutting down the portion size and sprinkle your granola on top a serving of high-protein Greek yogurt.
Monster Cookie Granola
Ingredients
For the Syrup
- 1/3 c Honey
- 2 Tbs. Butter melted
- 2 Tbs. Peanut Butter melted
- 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
For the Granola
- 1 c. Old Fashioned Oats
- 1/2 c. Steel-Cut Oats
- 1/2 c. Peanuts
- 1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. Salt
Mix-Ins
- 1/4 c. Mini M&Ms
- 1/4 c. Mini Chocolate Chips
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
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In a small bowl, combine ingredients for the syrup: honey, butter, peanut butter and vanilla extract. Set aside.
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In a large bowl, combine ingredients for the granola: old fashioned oats, steel cut oats, peanuts, cinnamon, and salt. Stir to mix.
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Pour syrup over the granola mixture. Stir to coat.
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Spread granola evenly onto your baking sheet.
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Bake granola at 350F for 10-15 minutes. It will have spread out in the oven, and maybe bubbled just a little. This is okay. Stir the granola gently with a spatula, and rearrange it evenly on the pan again. Return the granola to the oven and bake another 10-15 minutes (checking frequently to be sure it doesn't burn). Granola is ready when it is fragrant and golden.
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Cool granola completely, and break any large chunks into bite-sized pieces. Stir in the mix-ins: mini M&Ms and mini chocolate chips.
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Divide granola into 1/4 cup portions for on-the-go snacking! Snack-sized plastic baggies work great!
We go through phases around here…sometimes we’re in a fruit mood, sometimes popcorn (okay, lots of times popcorn), sometimes we roll with crackers and cheese, sometimes Mom’s sweet tooth wins out and we pull a few cookies out of the freezer (shhh…), and sometimes we’re too busy to grab anything besides what’s pre-packed in the pantry. But we always snack. Don’t you?
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