Honestly, I always thought homemade granola took crazy weird ingredients and too much time, so I just stocked up on store-bought granola. Then I tried a granola recipe I saw on Pinterest and LOVED it. Like, really loved it!
My life was forever changed... ok, that might be a little dramatic, but really, homemade granola is one of my favorite snacks to make! The combinations are endless and the work required for such a nutritious and delicious snack is minimal.
My first successful recipe for homemade granola was this Cinnamon Honey Applesauce Granola that tastes like a bite of fall (imagine 50° weather just after it rains and all the colorful leaves are falling off the trees) and you just can't get enough.
Then I started experimenting with different flavor combinations, along with mixing in protein powder, and today's Vegan Vanilla Almond Granola recipe was born! I'm especially excited because I'm pregnant with my first baby and this granola recipe uses MilkDust's Prenatal Protein Powder to add essential nutrients for both me and baby.
Like I said, homemade granola is wayyyyy easier than you think and it's so easy to customize, especially if you have dietary needs (like gluten-free recipes or dairy-free recipes). Luckily, this vanilla almond granola is 100% plant based, vegan, and refined sugar-free, so everybody can enjoy it!
This granola is made with:
Thanks to MilkDust Prenatal Protein Powder, every bite of this tasty vegan granola is fortified with essential nutrients for mom and baby like vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B12, folate, and potassium. It's also 100% plant-based, allergen-free (no gluten, dairy, soy, or corn), and non-GMO.
I've loved using incorporating this protein powder during pregnancy because it makes for a quick and healthy pregnancy snack that keeps me full until the next meal. I've added it to my protein shakes, granolas, pancakes, and even energy bites!
I'm also excited to use their lactation protein powder when I start breastfeeding! Their unique blend of plant-based protein has a slightly different blend of nutritional ingredients that help boost milk supply, keep mom satiated, and promote healthy weight loss after birth.
Lastly, you'll love this granola as a healthy pregnancy snack because every serving is contains:
Oh my goodness it's SIMPLE. Like, my husband could do it without my help! Just like most baking recipes, there is a bowl of wet ingredients and a bowl of dry ingredients. Combine them and bake!
Don't worry though, if you've never made homemade granola before, I'll break it down step by step below.
Start with mixing the rolled oats, Cheerios, cinnamon, sea salt, and sliced almonds together in a medium-sized bowl.
Next, whisk together the applesauce, almond butter, milk, vanilla, and protein powder in a small bowl until smooth. Gently fold in the chia seeds until combined. Note: the MilkDust Protein Powder will turn the wet ingredients slightly green because it is plant-based. The color won't affect the taste!
Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until everything is coated and a little bit sticky. Don't worry, it'll look like there's not enough wet ingredients at first, but I promise there is! It just takes a little bit to get everything mixed.
Spread the granola in an even layer on a large baking sheet. This step is important because we want everything to bake evenly and we want to avoid really big clusters of granola! Bake for 15 minutes, toss with a spoon, and let cool completely on the pan before serving. That's it!
If you increased the baking temperature or left the granola in the oven for too long, it's likely your granola burned before getting a chance to caramelize and develop a slight crunch.
The natural sugars from the almond butter and applesauce caramelize in the heat of the oven, which causes the sugar molecules to bond together. If you like big clusters of granola, don't mix up the granola after baking. If you like smaller, bite-size pieces, give the sheet pan a good toss before cooling. Either way, you'll still have perfectly golden homemade granola!
Using plant-based protein powder might add a green hue to the wet ingredients, especially if using the MilkDust Prenatal Protein Powder. This is normal and won't affect the taste!
Of course! Feel free to use any vanilla protein powder, vegan or not, for your vanilla almond granola. Just make sure to measure out 33g (approximately 1/3 cup) of protein powder.
Allow your granola to cool completely, then store in an airtight container or plastic bag for up to 6 months at room temperature.
This vanilla almond granola is perfect with a bowl of nonfat vanilla greek yogurt (this brand is my favorite!), a bowl of unsweetened almond milk (like cereal), or just by itself! It's so easy to bring on the road for a quick healthy snack.
If you try this recipe, be sure to leave a star rating and review below so I and other readers know how you liked it! You can also tag me on Instagram with a photo of your finished granola. I love seeing my recipes in your home!
This delicious Vanilla Almond Granola doubles as a healthy lactation snack for breastfeeding moms because it's fortified with essential nutrients from oats, almonds, chia seeds and protein powder. It's also gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and vegan.
*You can substitute any vanilla protein powder here, vegan or not, as long as it is 33g (appr. 1/3 cup).
**Using natural almond butter is important because we need it to be runny. If you have a thicker almond butter, you'll need to melt it with 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil in the microwave to make it drippy.
Nutrition facts are a calculated estimate of 1/2 cup (2 oz.) of granola using the MilkDust Prenatal Protein Powder.
Serving: 1/2 cup / Calories: 169 / Fat: 6.8g / Saturated Fat: 0.5g / Carbohydrates: 21.2g / Fiber: 4.3g / Sugar: 3g / Protein: 7.1g / Iron: 2.2mg
Get a fresh delivery of all my new recipes straight to your inbox.
Leave a review