It all started with a typical weekend shopping trip to Costco where I discovered a delicious and highly addicting snack called Granola Clusters. You can find them in the Bakery section where they are sitting innocently on a table just waiting for unsuspecting passersby to put them in their cart. Little do these people know what will become of them once they decide to let these little morsels into their lives! Suddenly they become like Gollum in Lord of the Rings with their “precious” granola snack!
I admit, I succumbed to the lure of the clusters and became ensnared in their powerful allure! I became obsessed with the idea of replicating them in my own kitchen so I wouldn’t risk running out! (After all, Costco is a good 30 minute drive from my house! What if I ran out and I couldn’t get to Costco right away? I couldn’t take that chance!) So I spent a good deal of the afternoon and evening on Monday trying to create my own version of this evil concoction.
The fact that I couldn’t find any recipes online that were even remotely like this stuff should have been a warning — this stuff should not be replicated! It’s much too addicting and in the wrong hands it could be dangerous. But I ignored all the red flags and carelessly pressed on in my desperate pursuit to make my own “homemade” crack, errrr, clusters!
Eventually I found a recipe that claimed to result in “granola clusters” but maybe I was too far gone in my addiction at this point, because the recipe did NOT turn out how I had hoped! I wasn’t looking for subtle clustering of the granola, I needed big, chunky, chewy, satisfying clusters! Thankfully, I still had enough presence of mind to make some changes to the recipe that resulted in what I think is actually better than the original! Boy oh boy did I luck out on this one! ;-)
Of course it still should have a warning label because it’s still as addicting as sin, but at least it’s homemade! ;-) (And yes, I AM eating it like candy as I type this post! Don’t judge me!) ;-)
Granola Clusters
Adapted from The Traveler’s Lunchbox
Ingredients
- 1 lb quick oats (I used gluten-free)
- 3 cups coarsely chopped raw nuts and/or seeds (I used 2 cups whole, roasted almonds and 1 cup sunflower seeds)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 cups dried fruit (I used 1 cup raisins, 1 cup cranberries)
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, coffee grinder or blender, grind half the oats to a fine powder (this apparently is KEY when making clusters! Helps make the granola hold together better).
In a large bowl, combine the whole oats, ground oats, nuts, spices, and dried fruit.
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the brown sugar, honey, butter, maple syrup and water and heat until the mixture starts to bubble. Stir in the salt and vanilla.
Pour this over the oats and nuts, stirring well to coat.
It should be moist – stir in another tablespoon or two of water if it isn’t. Let stand for about ten minutes.
Spread the mixture out on a large baking sheet and firmly press it down until it is packed nicely into the pan.
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Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven, let cool, then gently break up the mixture into medium-sized clumps. Now put BACK in the oven for another 15 to 20 minutes.
When the granola comes out of the oven it should be nice and golden brown, extra crunchy on the outside and just slightly soft and chewy on the inside. Let cool completely then break it up into clusters and store in a covered container at room temperature.
If you like snacking on granola you simply have to try these. Oh, and don’t worry — I can stop anytime I want to! ;-)
Granola Clusters
Ingredients
- 1 lb quick oats I used gluten-free
- 3 cups coarsely chopped raw nuts and/or seeds I used 2 cups whole, roasted almonds and 1 cup sunflower seeds
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 cups dried fruit I used 1 cup raisins, 1 cup cranberries
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 cup 2 sticks butter
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, coffee grinder or blender, grind half the oats to a fine powder
- In a large bowl, combine the whole oats, ground oats, nuts, spices, and dried fruit.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the brown sugar, honey, butter, maple syrup and water and heat until the mixture starts to bubble. Stir in the salt and vanilla.
- Pour this over the oats and nuts, stirring well to coat.
- It should be moist – stir in another tablespoon or two of water if it isn’t. Let stand for about ten minutes.
- Spread the mixture out on a large baking sheet and FIRMLY PRESS IT DOWN until it is packed nicely into the pan.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven, let cool, then gently break up the mixture into medium-sized clumps. Now put BACK in the oven for another 15 to 20 minutes.
- When the granola comes out of the oven it should be nice and golden brown, extra crunchy on the outside and just slightly soft and chewy on the inside. Let cool completely then break it up into clusters and store in a covered container at room temperature.
Nutrition
Jillee..wow, this sounds amazing!! And don’t be so hard on yourself about becoming addicted to this. I am a mother of an addict, and I am going to make this nd hope and pray that this becomes his drug of choice, right? :-) I have one question. What is considered a serving? I am trying to figure out how much I can eat that will be 57 carbohydrates. I am diabetic and you can bet I will figure out just how much insulin I need to take to eat this like I shouldn’t!! Thanks for this little gem of a recipe.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This granola is truly amazing! I love it and make it all the time. Thanks Jillee for sharing the recipe.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Oh my stars! You nailed it! I halved the recipe, used agave instead of honey, dark Karo in place of maple syrup, and some orange extract. Craisins, walnuts, hemp hearts. Everything else the same. Spread about 3/8″ thick in a jelly roll pan. Bake 20 min 1st round, 15 min 2nd round.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m not sure what I did wrong. While the taste was yummy, my granola did not clump up or get crunchy. I followed the directions exactly as written. So disappointed because I really love the granola clusters!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.LOVE this stuff ! Made it a few weeks ago and my husband and I couldn’t get enough of it. About to make it now, but, in reading the recipe this time, I realized it called for “1/2 maple syrup.” Guess this should be “1/2 cup maple syrup” (think that’s what I used last time), but wanted to double check with the expert.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have read in the comments several times about a second step where more honey, butter and syrup are added but I don’t see that in the recipe. My clusters came out more the consistency of over baked cookies and weren’t very sweet or chewy. I’m thinking I need that second secret step!! Can anyone help? Please!! My Costco stopped making the granola and I am in mourning :(
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Searched for this recipe after my Costco stopped making their granola. Thank you Costco because with your decision to stop making granola, I would never have found this recipe! It is absolutely fantastic!! I love it!! Thank you!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am so with you! When I went and found Costco was no longer making the granola, my comment to the bearer of bad news,”Shoot me, shoot me now! Lol I even posted a pic on Facebook. If there is food in heaven, fresh berries, Chobani yogurt with Costco granola on top that would be mine! Thanks for putting your version together. I am sure it will be delicious!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I bet this granola tastes wonderful as most things with 2 sticks of butter usually do. :) I love granola and tend to make it when I realize I need to take control of my diet. Granola tends to be high in calories but since it’s nutritious, I feel it’s a good snack so long as I watch portions. I have a delicious recipe that I’ve been using for years from BHG. Unfortunately, it is a loose granola. So I looked at a few cluster recipes and adapted it. I thought I’d share it in case anyone else wants to do something a bit healthier.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I mix 4 cups of old fashioned oats, a cup and a half of almond slivers, 1/4 cup of packed brown sugar a little higher than level, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 2/3 cup processed oats like Jillee used in her recipe. Warm 1/2 cup of coconut oil with 1/4 cup of honey and a tsp of vanilla. Pour it over the dry mixture and incorporate. I use a cookie scoop to more easily portion it into non-stick mini muffin tins, then use my spatula to press it down. I bake at 325 for around 15 minutes but feel free to adjust according to your oven. Let it cool before removing from the pan. I use a mini rubber spatula to loosen them and then store in a covered container. (I made 66 clusters.)
Uh oh. I forgot to add to one and a half cups dried cranberries to the dry mix.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It’s in fact very difficult in this busy life to listen news on Television,
Please log in or create a free account to comment.thus I simply use internet for that reason, and take the most up-to-date news.
My husband is a truck driver and loves this receipt so much he makes me make for every trip. Thank you for the best snack that travels all 50 states and is shared in all
Please log in or create a free account to comment.YUM!!! I can’t wait to make this granola! I have also bought the granola clusters at Sam’s and loved it. the first time I bought it my daughter was with me and we decided to split a package and try it. Our Sam’s if an hour away from where I live and on the way home I ate almost half of my share. It was like the best oatmeal cookie I have ever had. I can identify with your addiction. Thank you for perfecting and sharing this recipe. This goes on my to do list for tomorrow.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hey Ladies, I just came on to find this saved recipe since I am now wheat, diary and sugar free and decided to make this. Reading through your comments I see a lot of you are using Agave. This is one of the worst sugars you can use. Whoever is marketing this product is a genius because they have us all thinking we are doing something good. It is at least as bad as High Fructose Corn Syrup. Go google it and stop using it. I am so glad I decided to look it up and the info comes from many reputable places. Sorry for the bad news.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I noticed in your recipe you don’t have a measurement for the maple syrup. How much do you use? It just says 1/2 maple syrup.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The pictures are broken links! I’d love to see this. It sounds awesome!
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