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Salty Sweet Peanut Butter and Jelly Homemade Granola

July 11, 2019 by Ginger Hultin MS RDN

When you don’t have a lot of time to put breakfast together, but still want something healthy and nourishing, granola is always a great option. Making it yourself is even better. My Salty Sweet Peanut Butter and Jelly Homemade Granola recipe is great for meal prep so that you have an easy go-to breakfast all week long. Packed with whole grains, healthy fats and fruits, this granola has all you need to fuel you through the day.

Making granola ahead of time is also great for times when you will be away from home, like at a conference or on a camping trip. I’m going camping this weekend and I’m in charge of making one breakfast for a group of friends so of course I’m making my Salty Sweet Peanut Butter and Jelly Homemade Granola! I’m not trying to get a campfire going first thing in the morning so I need an easy, healthy, grab-and-go breakfast that people can eat as they get up without having to bring a lot of equipment or spending time on preparation.

Our main activities this weekend are going to be boating, wine tasting, and having a pool party so I really need to focus my attention elsewhere. Also, as a vegetarian, I’ve always found “camp food” a bit challenging. Because of that, I do have several healthy, camp-friendly recipes on the blog. I have slightly healthier s’mores, for example. And I have a couple granola recipes (plums and cranberry almond). I find myself making granola more in the fall and winter because I love how the oven warms the house but this Salty Sweet Peanut Butter and Jelly Homemade Granola is kind of fun for summer.

About Salty Sweet Peanut Butter and Jelly Homemade Granola 

Peanut butter and jelly is just awesome. If you get the kind of bread you enjoy the most, choose your favorite peanut butter – smooth or chunky? – and pick the most delicious jam (berry? apricot? grape?), you have an amazing breakfast, snack, lunch or pre/post workout fuel. PB&J perfectly balances complex carbohydrates and fiber with protein and healthy fats to keep you full and energized for a long time. It only makes sense to create other foods with the same delicious properties and balance. This is where Salty Sweet Peanut Butter and Jelly Homemade Granola was born.

Just like a PB&J sandwich, you can make this granola your own. Want it vegan-friendly? Use maple syrup instead of honey. Feel free to chop the peanuts into smaller pieces if you’d like. Add you can use more or less sweetener depending on your preference. Add salt if you like. Choose your favorite jam and choose your favorite fruit. I made my Salty Sweet Peanut Butter and Jelly Homemade Granola just the way I like it: minimally sweet, whole peanuts, apricot jam, and dried cherries on the finish.

The batter will be a bit moist but it dries out nicely as it cools. On our camping trip, we’re putting Salty Sweet Peanut Butter and Jelly Homemade Granola on top of a high protein, low sugar yogurt – Siggis – so we can eat it in the morning or for a snack during the trip. I’m excited about this very easy, quick to prepare, easy to pack, no-hassle granola and I hope you get a chance to try it, too!

Healthy Ingredients

This recipe is packed with healthy ingredients to start your day. Let’s take a lot at some of these important health benefits.

Oats

Oats are very nutritious and a great way to start the day. They are rich in B-vitamins, especially Thiamine (aka vitamin B1), fiber, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and zinc. One half cup of oats contains 5g of protein and 4g of fiber.

Oats are associated with heart health benefits. A soluble fiber called beta-glucan in oats can lower cholesterol levels. Oats are whole grains and an important part of a healthy diet. Studies have shown the highest intake of whole-grain intakes were significantly associated with reduced risk of heart disease. 

Beta-glucan is also important for blood sugar control. The fiber prevents sharp increase in blood sugar and insulin levels after a meal and is therefore good to incorporate into a diabetic diet.

Peanuts and Peanut Butter

Peanut and peanut butter are packed with nutrition. They are a great source of plant-based protein and are also high in a lot of important vitamins and minerals. They are a good source of healthy fats and are high in B-vitamins and minerals including copper, phosphorus, and magnesium. These minerals are important for bone health, supporting the production of red blood cells, and energy production. 

Dried Fruit 

Dried fruits are a good source of fiber, micronutrients and antioxidants. While they may contain slightly less vitamin C than fresh fruit, the majority of antioxidants and phytonutrients are preserved. For example, ¼ cup of dried apricots contains 50% of your daily vitamin A needs and is a good source of potassium. Try to avoid dried fruit that has added sugar – they have plenty of healthful natural sugars on their own.   

Putting It All Together

The first step is preheating the oven to 350 F so that it is ready to go once all the ingredients are prepared. Line a large baking sheet with parchment or wax paper and then you’re ready to start putting the recipe together!

Place the oats, cinnamon, and peanuts in a large mixing bowl. Stir them together so that they are evenly mixed. In a separate microwave-safe bowl, you’re going to put the honey or maple syrup and peanut butter. Microwave it for 30 seconds, then use a wooden spoon to stir it all together. Add the vanilla extract and the oil and stir again until evenly incorporated.

Blend the wet and dry mixtures together. Add your favorite jam and fold to combine. Now that everything is mixed we are ready to cook! Place the entire mixture onto the parchment lined sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Then stir and bake for another 10 minutes. Stir and bake for a final 10 minutes for a total of 30 minutes of baking time.

Finally, remove from the oven and place the granola back into a large mixing bowl. Fold in the dried fruit. Next pour the warm mixture onto a foil lined cooling rack. The mixture will harden as it cools.

Serve within 5-6 days or place it in the freezer where it will last for up to two months.

 

What are your favorite camping breakfast ideas? I’d love to hear some in the comments below!

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Salty Sweet Peanut Butter and Jelly Homemade Granola

Salty Sweet Peanut Butter and Jelly Homemade Granola

Enjoy this simple, healthy, comfort-food recipe
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: Americana
Keyword: easy granola, granola
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 9 1/3 cup servings
Calories:

Ingredients

  • 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
  • 3 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup salted peanuts
  • 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
  • 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter no salt, sugar or oil added
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoon canola or grapeseed oil
  • 1/2 cup apricot jam sweetened with fruit juice instead of sugar if possible
  • 1 cup dried cherries, blueberries and/or cranberries fruit juice sweetened or unsweetened

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment/wax paper.
  • In a large mixing bowl, blend oats, cinnamon and peanuts.
  • In a separate medium mixing bowl, place honey or maple syrup and peanut butter and microwave for 30 seconds. When the mixture is warm, blend together with a wooden spoon. Add vanilla extract and oil.
  • Pour wet mixture into dry and blend together.
  • Top mixture with jam and fold to combine. There may be dollops of jam within the batter.
  • Place the entire mixture onto the parchment lined sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Stir and bake for another 10 minutes. Stir and bake for a final 10 minutes for a total of 30 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and place granola back in a large mixing bowl. Fold in dried fruit then pour warm mixture out onto a foil lined cooling wrack. Mixture will harden as it cools.
  • Serve within the following 5-6 days or keep in the freezer to serve for up to two months.
Tried this recipe?Mention @champagnenutrition

3 Comments

  1. Melanie on February 22, 2021 at 9:43 am

    This is my go-to breakfast! Can’t go wrong with PB&J

    • Ginger Hultin on February 22, 2021 at 11:09 am

      It’s such a great, healthy, comfort food!

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Ginger Hultin,MS, RD, CSO

An award-winning, nationally recognized nutrition expert and media spokesperson.

Thanks for visiting! If you’re like me: obsessed with eating, wine, going out and traveling, you’re in the right place. Champagne Nutrition® LLC is a Registered Dietitian-run concierge virtual practice helping clients look and feel better. On this blog, you’ll find cocktails, mocktails, and plant-based recipes that are easy to make quickly at home and pack for leftovers on your adventures.

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