What can I say… I’m feeling generous.
Low carb granola TWO ways. Not one, folks. Two. That’s twice as much. (I threw that in for those of you who refuse to do any basic math in a silent rebellion against your tenth grade algebra teacher. I get it. I mean, I’m a ninth grader and everything, but I get it.)
You see, I like fudge brownies. I like peanut butter. I like granola. So you could imagine where I would be all over this. But I need to tell you something. Something uber super secret, ‘kay? Come here. Come closer. CLOSER. Okay, you can stop.
Ready?
Granola is NOT a health food. I know. Deep breaths.
I’m speaking generally here, but as a whole, store-bought granola is a carby, sugary, fatty mess that is not necessarily to be avoided completely, but certainly not sought out as “health” food. Because it’s not.
So I’m out to fix all that. With my usual unusually high expectations in mind, I knew I needed my granola to be vegan, gluten and grain free, paleo, sugar free, and low carb. Oh, and less than 150 calories per 1/2 cup. No biggie.
Moral of the story? After I made my first batch, I whipped up another batch in a different flavor just so I had an excuse to stand over the baking sheet and eat copious amounts of my creation without feeling weird. Don’t you love a happy ending?
Sound good? Come live in happily ever after with me. (I mean, there’s granola there!)
Fudge Brownie Granola (Vegan/Gluten Free/Grain Free/Paleo/Sugar Free)
Adapted from my Peanut Butter Banana Coconut “Granola”
Makes about 2 cups
Nutritional Comparison
Serving size: 1/4 cup
Calories: 125.25
Fat: ~7.5 grams
vs.
Fudge Brownie Coconut “Granola”
(Calculated with reduced fat coconut)
Serving size: 1/4 cup
Calories: ~54
Fat: ~5 grams (healthy coconut fats!)
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut (I used reduced fat coconut.)
1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Carob is fabulous in this, too.)
1/2 teaspoon liquid stevia (Only use 1/4 teaspoon of stevia if using carob.)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F.
In a pot over medium heat, whisk together almond milk and unsweetened cocoa powder. Stir in the stevia and coconut until completely combined and remove from heat. Spread coconut mixture out on a parchment or silicone mat lined baking sheet, and bake in the oven at 350F for 25-30 minutes, depending on how crunchy you like it. Stir the granola about 15-20 minutes after it has been in the oven. Check pretty frequently in the final minutes of baking to make sure it doesn’t burn. Let cool completely before storing in an airtight container. (It will last longer if kept in the fridge.) Remember, the granola will harden a little bit as it cools, but not too much.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola (Vegan/Gluten Free/Grain Free/Paleo/Sugar Free)
Adapted from my Low Carb Peanut Butter Banana Coconut “Granola”
Makes about 2 – 2 1/2 cups
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut (I used reduced fat coconut)
2 Tablespoons peanut butter (I used Better N’ Peanut Butter, for a lower fat option)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Carob is lovely, too.)
1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/4 teaspoon liquid stevia
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F.
In a pot over medium heat, combine peanut butter, unsweetened cocoa powder, and milk, and cook, stirring often, until completely melted. Stir in the coconut and sweetener until totally combined and remove from heat. Spread coconut mixture out on a parchment or silicone mat lined baking sheet, and bake in the oven at 350F for 25-35 minutes, depending on how crunchy you like your granola. Stir the granola about 15-20 minutes after it has been in the oven. Check pretty frequently in the final minutes of baking to make sure it doesn’t burn. Remember, it will harden a little bit as it cools, but not too much.
Do not put the granola in a closed jar right after taking it out of the oven in a desperate and lame attempt to not eat all of it at once. That is bad. It will get soggy. I will still eat it anyway.
Excuse me, it is totally cool to eat dessert for breakfast thankyouverymuch.
You May Also Like:
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
granola is my faaaavourite! that makes you my second favourite.
…but I highly encourage you to recheck the ingredients of the brownie version. juss sayin’, I think there’s a mistake.
Thank you SO much for pointing that out Laura! I fixed the recipe as soon as you mentioned it, but I have been a bit embarrassed to respond because I made such a careless mistake. I’ll definitely be more careful from now on! Please accept my apologies, and thanks again!
NO MISTAKES ALLOWED EVER, KELLY. good lord, I start making mistakes as soon as I wake up in the morning. you are still my second favourite.
good lawd this looks fantastiiicc
Haha. Thanks Jess!
Awesome! Love the flavours you’ve chosen
Hello! I just found your blog and have spent the last half hour creeping on it. (<—-to creepy?)
Love your recipes! I'll definitely be trying many of them
Thank you so much, Alex!
Oooh love the sound of this! Will definitely attempt making it