Granola Clusters: the easy recipe for healthy granola bites
These easy granola clusters are a delightful, nutritious snack that you can make in about half an hour. Packed with fiber and protein-rich oats, granola clusters are crunchy, perfectly sweet, with a subtle honey and vanilla flavor. The combination of honey and oil helps the clusters to stick together while baking them in the oven makes the clusters hold their shape.
Homemade granola clusters are healthier than anything you'll buy in stores and are free from preservatives. They're a great-tasting nutritious snack that both children and adults will love. Plus, kids will love helping to make them!
Granola Cluster Ingredients
Basic granola clusters only call for a handful of ingredients, although you can always add more to make them even more delicious! For this easy granola cluster recipe, you'll need old-fashioned rolled oats as a base. These are the best type of oats. Don't use instant oats to make granola.
You'll also need cinnamon and vanilla to flavor the granola. Honey and sugar will add sweetness and help bind the clusters together. Finally, the oil will help the granola brown up.
How to Make Granola Clusters
To make these delectable healthy granola clusters, combine the oats, sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Mix the honey, oil, and vanilla extract together in a separate bowl. Pour the honey mixture over the oats and stir well to combine. Shape the clusters into your desired shape and size with your hands.
Place the clusters onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake the clusters for 20 to 30 minutes, at 300F or until they start to turn lightly golden. Remove from oven to cool.
Tips for Making the Best Granola Clusters
Thanks to their high fiber content, granola clusters are a healthy snack. You can make them even healthier by reducing the amount of sugar in the recipe and adding other nutritious ingredients like nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.
To make a no-bake version, substitute the oil for nut butter. Peanut butter and almond butter are excellent options.
Granola Clusters Variations
For a sweeter treat, add chocolate chips, M&Ms, toffee chunks, or coconut flakes to your granola clusters. Dried fruit is a fantastic addition to this easy snack. Dried cranberries, raisins, apples, chopped dates, and figs would all be delicious.
You can also add chopped nuts or seeds like pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, or sesame seeds. Get creative and use your favorites.
If you're on a gluten-free diet, make sure to only use gluten-free oats.
Vegans can use maple syrup or agave nectar instead of honey. And if you're looking for a low-carb keto granola cluster recipe, simply use your preferred sweetener as a substitute for sugar and honey.
How to Use Granola Clusters
While granola clusters are great for snacking, there are plenty of other clever ways to use them. Sprinkle them into your morning yogurt or oatmeal, use them to liven up a bowl of ice cream, or crumble them over a pie or dessert bar for a bit of crunch.
How to Store Granola Clusters
Keep leftover granola clusters in an airtight container at room temperature. Enjoy them within one week.
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Instructions
Preheat your oven to 300F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Combine oats, sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, stir honey, oil, and vanilla extract. Pour over the oats and stir to combine. Use your hands to create clusters of your desired size.
Place the clusters onto the baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until they start to lightly golden. Remove from the oven to cool.
Notes
Use a neutral-tasting oil like canola, sunflower, grapeseed, or avocado.
