Can I use regular maple syrup instead of lite pancake syrup?

Absolutely! Real maple syrup works beautifully in this recipe and adds a lovely natural sweetness. You may find the flavor slightly different but equally delicious, with maple complementing both the peppermint and white chocolate wonderfully.

My granola isn't forming clusters. What did I do wrong?

Cluster formation depends on a few factors. Make sure you're using enough binding ingredients (the oil and syrup), not stirring too much during baking, and allowing the granola to cool completely before breaking it apart. The melted white chocolate also helps bind clusters, so make sure it's well distributed.

Can I make this granola without protein powder?

Yes! Simply replace the protein powder with an equal amount of oats or almond flour. The texture will be slightly different, but the flavor will still be delicious. You might want to add a touch more vanilla extract to compensate for the missing vanilla flavor from the protein powder.

Is this granola gluten-free?

It can be! Just make sure to use certified gluten-free oats and check that your puffed rice cereal and protein powder are also gluten-free. Most of the other ingredients are naturally gluten-free, but always check labels to be certain, especially for the white chocolate chips.

Peppermint White Chocolate Granola Recipe

Description

This Peppermint White Chocolate Granola is a festive, protein-packed snack featuring old fashioned oats, puffed rice cereal, and a hint of peppermint. Finished with white chocolate chips, it offers a crunchy and delicious blend perfect for breakfast, snacking, or holiday gifts.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Dry Ingredients
1 cup Old Fashioned Oats (80g)
2 cups Puffed Rice Cereal (34g)
1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder (31g)
Wet Ingredients
1/4 cup melted coconut oil (50ml)
1/4 cup lite pancake syrup (50ml)
1/4 tsp. Peppermint Extract
Topping
1/3 cup White Chocolate Chips (Lily’s, 55g)

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Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C) to prepare for baking the granola.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the old fashioned oats, puffed rice cereal, and vanilla protein powder. Whisk together until well combined to distribute the protein powder evenly.
Add Wet Ingredients: Melt the coconut oil and pour it into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Add the lite pancake syrup and peppermint extract. Stir thoroughly until all the components are evenly coated and clumps are broken up.
Spread Mixture on Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the granola mixture out in an even layer, ensuring there are no large clusters, which will help the granola dry and bake evenly.
Bake the Granola: Bake the granola in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove the baking sheet, stir the granola to ensure even baking, then spread it out again.
Bake Until Golden: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 2-6 minutes, checking every couple of minutes to prevent burning. The granola should become dry and lightly golden.
Add White Chocolate: Take out the baking sheet and sprinkle the white chocolate chips evenly over the hot granola. Place back in the oven for 2-6 minutes, checking every couple of minutes, until the chocolate is slightly melted and the granola is dry and crumbly.
Cool and Break into Chunks: Allow the granola to cool on the baking sheet so the chocolate adheres to the pieces. Once fully cooled, break into chunks and enjoy your peppermint white chocolate granola!

Notes

All nutrition facts are an estimate and may change with any substitutions.
Check granola frequently during the second baking phase to ensure it doesn’t burn.
For optimal texture, spread your granola out evenly and break up any large clumps before baking.
Let the granola cool completely before breaking into chunks for best crunch and chocolate adhesion.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/10 of recipe (~20g)
Calories: Approximately 110
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 25mg
Fat: 4g
Saturated Fat: 2.5g
Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 16g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 3g
Cholesterol: 0mg

Description

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

Wet Ingredients

Topping

Instructions

Notes

Nutrition