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I’m always on the hunt for easy breakfast ideas. This one is one of the most simple I’ve ever seen. You cook it in your crockpot of all places, so there’s very little work involved for the amount of granola you get. It’s also frugal, costing under $5 for 30 servings.
Having an “E” friendly meal to start your day really gives you that much-needed boost of energy. This granola is such an easy fix when paired with some almond milk and berries or used as a topping on a greek yogurt parfait. It also freezes well, which I didn’t know until I researched! But apparently, you can put whatever granola you’re not going to use within a couple weeks in an air-tight container or freezer bag and freeze it until you need it. To defrost? Just leave it out overnight on the counter.
Note: Butter is not usually recommended in an “E” setting, however, you can have up to 1 t. fat per “E” meal. When you do the math, the fat is spread out enough to make this a solid “E”.
Let me know your favorite way to use this granola!
Special Items Mentioned:
- 1 42 oz tub of Old Fashioned Oats
- 1 Stick Melted Butter
- 3 T. Cinnamon
- 2/3 C. Gentle Sweet
- Pour oats into a large crockpot. Melt butter and stir in the sweetener and cinnamon. Pour over the oats and stir well. Cook on high for 3 hours. Stir occasionally. The granola is done when it's golden brown. Note: Crockpot cooking time may vary. I'd start with 3 hours and test by letting a bit of granola cool. If it crisps up, it's done!
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Neat! I’ve never thought to make granola in the crock pot before. I’m looking forward to trying this method. My favorite granola recipe uses applesauce instead of butter. It takes longer to crisp up, but then you can put half and half in your coffee or make a healing trimmy light without going over on fat. It also tastes really good.
What a good idea! 🙂 I think I’ll try that next time!
How much applesauce
Great idea with the applesauce! Do you use the same amount as the recipe calls for the butter?
Did you do this recipe with applesauce instead of butter? How did it turn out? Same amount of applesauce as butter?
I haven’t finished my last batch, but am going to try with applesauce the next time! I would recommend the same amount of applesauce as butter. 🙂
Do you eat this with fat free geek Yogurt or just pour almond milk on it?
I do both! 🙂 It makes a great yogurt parfait topping when paired with berries.
I made this today and I was skeptical because it smelled (and looked) like the oats were burnt from the heat of the crockpot despite stirring it often. I truly thought I was going to have to throw out the whole lot. After the 3 hour mark, I put some of the granola (even with the burnt-looking oats) in a bowl with some almond milk and ate it to see how it tasted. No burnt taste! Tasted delicious. I’ve been on THM for almost 2 years and this was the first time I ever had something that resembled eating cereal with milk. I look forward to eating this granola in the AM with some fresh raspberries. Thanks!
Hey, Amy!
Yes, I agree! This granola does play tricks while it’s cooking. I’m so glad you liked it! <3 🙂 Thanks for the awesome review!
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I was so excited since I love oatmeal that I put it in the crockpot now. This may be a dumb question but where do you store it? With the butter I’m assuming the fridg? I’ve never made granola before. Glad it can be put in the freezer too as it looks like a lot to eat up for just me.
It’s smelling so awesome I can’t wait to dig in. Thanks agin.
I’m making this as I type. It’s smelling amazing. How do I store it? I assume refrigerator since there’s butter, but this is my first try at making granola so thoughtful gut I’d check on that. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I’m anxious to taste in in an hour:)
I store it in an airtight container or a well sealed zip-loc baggie! No need to refrigerate. If you have extras you can freeze it. 🙂 I hope you like it! <3 It really does make a home smell cozy.
Has anyone tried it in an Instant Pot on slow cook? And wondering about using Pyure instead of Gentle Sweet, what measurements?
I am going to say it would work great in your Instant Pot! Pyure measures like Gentle Sweet I believe, so the same measurements are fine!
I personally think Pyure measures closer to Super Sweet than Gentle Sweet… But it might be somewhere in between.
I only have Stevia, would the measurement be the same?
No, stevia is MUCH stronger. 🙂 You’ll want to use about 3-4 doonks.
Can’t wait to try this. My husband would love granola again!!! Thanks so much!!
I am assuming we are to put the lid on the crockpot?
Yes, Ma’am!
Will this work halved? I don’t have enough oatmeal. ?
Yes Ma’am! 🙂
Is the crockpot on high or low for those 3 hours?
High! 🙂
When halved would the time being 1 1/2 hrs. Or still the 3 hrs.?
You can try 1 1/2, at that time pull a little bit out and let it cool. You want it to be crispy! I’ve never made it with less, so I’m not sure!
I have gluten free quick cooking oats. Will that work with this recipe?
The recipe would most likely have the same results! The quick cooking oats aren’t on plan, but I say use up what you got! 🙂
I tried this in my instapot and it did not work. I don’t know if it was because it’s deep and so the oats didn’t spread as much. I cooked it twice in the instapost (1x for 3 hours & 1x for 2 hours). The next day i put it in the oven but didn’t like the results. I’m going to try again in a crock pot.
Hi Amy!
I’m sorry to hear that it didn’t work in your Instant Pot. I am still waiting to purchase 0one, but my eraders have said that the pressure cooker tendencies make the granola unsuccessful. I assure you that you’ll love the results you get in your Crock-Pot. 🙂
So ….. If I don’t have a 42 oz tub of oats (I buy in bulk). Do I just measure 15 cups? Or I could use a scale ????? I did try to measure and it came out to about 10 cups for me?????
Hi Genet!
I would say it’s about 15 cups as each serving is 1/2 C. and it serves 30. 🙂 There’s a little bit of wiggle room, I’m sure so no stress if that number isn’t exact!
Is there a substitute for the ‘ gentle sweet’? Honey, Splendora, sugar?
You can use 1/2 C. Honey, 3/4 C. Splenda or 3/4 C. Sugar. Obviously this would no longer be slimming. 🙂
You How is this an E meal with the butter? Or, how is it an S meal with the oats? I’m confused.
You can have 1 tsp of fat with a E meal. Since a serving size is 1/2 C., you are well within limits 🙂
Couldn’t wait to try the granola! I only have enough oats to halve the recipe. So I only used 4 tbs butter, Is it supposed to be very dry and then the oats “toast” up in the cooking process, or do I need to add something to make a wetter consistency?
Yupp! The oats are dry. They do toast up nicely, though 🙂
I saw on someone else’s comments that quick oats was not on plan… I thought quick oats was ok now on THM… maybe i misunderstood…. Just wondered
Hey, Carol!
To my knowledge, quick oats aren’t on plan. 🙂
We use Equal Spoonful in our household (I know it’s not all-natural, but it’s less pricey & it’s still sugar & calorie-free)…any clue if I should still use 2/3 c Equal in place of the Gentle Sweet? Less? More?
Hey, April! I’m guessing equal is more like a Super Sweet..so I’d say use maybe 1/3 a cup so you don’t oversweeten! 🙂
How many grams of butter are in a stick, please. Thank you 🙂
113 🙂
Hi! This sounds simple enough! I’m Going to have to try it ASAP! I only have truvia, do you know how much should Be used? I’m excited to try this! And yes, I’m overemphasizing the exclamations, but that’s how excited I am!
Lol! 🙂 Your comment made me smile! I would use 1/3 C. Truvia.
Help! I just tried making 1/2 and when I mixed the ingredients together it stayed in one clump and won’t mix with the oats.
The heat from the crockpot should help melt everything together more. It’s a very thin layer of coating, just enough to give it a good taste and help it crisp!
This looks awesome. We’re not a big cinnamon family, what would you recommend for another flavor and how much would you add? Thank you!
You could do a chocolate-Add 1/4 C. Cocoa powder and maybe an extra T. of sweetener.
Or a vanilla almond with 1 t. each of vanilla and almond extract. 🙂
Could you add these variations into the recipe? Thx for considering!
Hey, Dana! I’ll work on that. 🙂 Thanks for the suggestion! <3
Have you tried substituting virgin coconut oil for the butter? Would this still be E?
I have not tried it. It would work and since you can have 1 t. of fat per “E” meal, I’d say it would still fall under that fuel. 🙂
Who much could be eaten in S setting with greek yogurt as parfait? with strawberries or blueberries? or would this still be E? another question – could it be used in Overnight oats for extra yumminess??
Having this in a parfait with greek yogurt and blueberries would still be an “E”. 🙂 I haven’t used this in overnight oats, but I’m sure you could!
I added Nutmeg to mine and it was so good! I kept some out and froze the rest! Thank you for the recipe! Love!
I’m so glad you liked it! I’ll have to add nutmeg to mine next time. 🙂
I would love to have granola with almonds in it again. Any suggestions on making it an S?
It would be pretty hard to make this an “S”. 🙂 Here are some “S” granolas:
http://mrscriddleskitchen.com/low-carb-granola/
http://www.countrygirlcookin.com/low-carb-granola-thm-s/
http://mytableofthree.com/no-grain-granola-cereal-s/
http://www.briana-thomas.com/peanut-butter-granola/
If they don’t already include almonds, feel free to add some. 🙂
This is awesome. I used the applesauce method. I’ve been eating it for breakfast as cereal and over yogurt as a snack. Today, I mixed in a bit of pumpkin in my vanilla yogurt and then mixed in the granola. It was super yum. It made me think…what if you subbed the applesauce for pumpkin…? Have you tried it? Anything negative to consider that I’m not thinking of? Also, BTW…I added nutmeg to mine too and it was super yum.
Hey, Julie!
I’m glad that you liked this recipe! I think pumpkin would be a wonderful variation. I’d keep the amount the same and maybe sub pumpkin spice for the cinnamon. I don’t think there would be any negatives! 🙂 I’ll have to try it with nutmeg. That sounds divine!
Do these get “crunchy” like real cereal, or is it more like a toasty consistency?
Crunchy! 🙂
Just made and letting it cool on jelly roll pans. I used apple sauce and added some sliced almonds since I did not use the butter. Also added nutmeg, allspice, ginger. Look forward to seeing how it is when it cools.
I hope you liked it!
Attempting the granola…super excited. However the butter, cinnamon didnt cover it…will it all taste good still?
Yes! It evens out when it cooks in the crockpot. 🙂
I made this last night and, while it smelled amazing, I can’t taste the cinnamon at all. Any way I can fix it now?