Peanut Butter Granola, 11p (VG/DF/V)
I first made this for myself as I love peanut butter in the mornings, but not having a toaster, popping bread under the grill inevitably goes wrong when you have a three year old to get washed and socked and shoed in the mornings – so I cobbled this together and bunged it in a big jar. Perfect with hot milk, or cold, or even pop it in the microwave for a minute for a warm, soft, stodgy, comforting start to your day.
There are endless variations to this too, just add a good oil, like coconut, in place of the peanut butter to hold your oats together (oo-er) and the possibilities are endless. I recommend dark chocolate with toasted or ground almonds if the purse stretches. Dark chocolate and marmalade is similar to a famous round chocolate orange in a bright blue box, and for breakfast, such fun! Golden syrup can be replaced with treacle, sugar, or any sweetening agent of your choice. If you feel like erring on the side of virtuous, chop a banana into it.
Makes 8 portions at 11p each. Costs worked out at Sainsburys, as it’s my nearest supermarket, and similar products are available at most leading supermarkets for competitive prices.
30ml oil, 3p (£3/3l, Sainsburys own brand)
4 tbsp/65g peanut butter, 33p (£3/600g Sun Pat crunchy – I use SP as it doesn’t contain palm oil, cheaper brands are available.)
4 tbsp/100g golden syrup, 18p (£1.25/680g Sainsburys own brand)
300g rolled porridge oats, 36p (£1.20/kg, Sainsburys own brand)
First, preheat the oven to 180C.
Melt the peanut butter and golden syrup together with the oil – either in a medium saucepan on a low heat for a minute or two, or in the microwave on full power for 30 seconds – and stir to combine.
Add the oats and mix well to coat then in the oil-peanut-syrup mixture.
Lightly grease a baking tray and tip the granola onto it, gently flattening down with the back of a spoon to spread approximately 1cm thick. Bake in the centre of the oven for 15 minutes.
Remove and allow to cool, before transferring to an airtight container to store. It will keep for around 2 months.
Jack Monroe. Twitter: @MxJackMonroe. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/agirlcalledjack
First published in the Guardian, 8th Jan 2014, and G2 magazine, 9th Jan 2014: For the original article, click here.
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Categories: BREAKFASTS, Guardian Food, Recipes & Food, Vegan Recipes, VEGETARIAN
Will def be trying this tomorrow, love anything with peanut butter as an ingredient and esp if it’s just 10p a portion : )
Love it, especially with the Banana, not because I am
virtuous but because it tastes great x
Well apparently it’s 241 calories per serving. Which strikes me as not bad at all, especially if you add some fruit and milk for a decent breakfast.
I now know what I’m having for breakfast next week
Yes I was very grateful to Daniel for working that out!!
Definitely trying that! As a lover of anything peanut related I bought a jar of the peanut butter drink in Sainsburys while it was in special offer. It is gorgeous! An absolute must!
Ah is it the one in the hot choc aisle? I made my own version with white choc, warm milk and PB. Recipe to follow now you’ve reminded me! 🙂
Thanks, I’ve been looking for a granola recipe. My daughters had some expensive Danio breakfast pots which they loved. Even rolled back to 50p they were over priced. I was looking for something that they could add to a yoghurt. I’ve got the pure peanut type of peanut butter so it won’t be quite as cheap as yours.
mixing peanut butter and plain yogurt makes a simple but delicious satay sauce
Sounds scrummy, will definitely be making some at the weekend with my kids 🙂 and please do put up the recipe for your peanut hot choc….. Sounds divine!! X
This looks great! How long of you think it would keep for in an airtight container please? I’ll eat anything so long as it’s not mouldy, but I try to be careful with what I give baby!
drink sounds delicious – can’t wait for recipe. If Sainsbury’s is no longer your nearest supermarket then Lidl does cheap but good quality chocolate in all colours!
That’s the one. Not keen on white chocolate at all, do the other flavours disguise the taste of it? Otherwise I’ll give it a go! Keep up the fab work you do..:-D
Peanut butter…. mmmmm…. and I suddenly see a way of using up the Christmas nuts.
Wow this looks great! I shall give it a try … thank you for the recipe 🙂
I’m a huge fan, love the recipe and so pleased to see you offering alternatives to the big breakfast cereal con Jack… it’s a big crusade of mine.
kidsdrinktap.wordpress.com
Is good, have made some and will be trying it out on my son tomorrow morning with a few curls of chocolate in it – his favourite cereal is country crisp which is a rare treat if its on special! This is some what cheaper 🙂 It reminds me of the coating I do for popcorn sometimes (melted butter, brown sugar and golden syrup. Toss popped corn in it and bake. Allow to cool and you have something similar to butterkist)! This topping on popcorn, peanut popcorn, it could work 🙂
I love it! I always thought life was too short to make my own granola, but I think the addition of peanut butter might have won me over.
I’m going to be making this tonight for weekend breakfasting! I made an amazing peanut butter noodles tonight will send the recipe to you Jack xx
I might try this with cocoa nibs
Just made this…….it’s fab, having four constantly hungry children between 15-22 it’s good to find something they all all like that doesn’t cost an arm and and a leg! Thanks Jack.
Just made this and the kitchen smells amazing! I also added a bit of cinnamon to it (I add it to almost everything anyway 😛 )
Reblogged this on bighairyhippy and commented:
This is definitely going to get made in my house soon!
I made this recipe last weekend and really love it. Not only is it cheap, but it’s also really filling. There was one morning when I ate a small bowl of it at 6h15 and wasn’t hungry again until after 13h30, which is pretty good going. I think this one is set to become a staple in our house.
This is lovely. Another one to try is mixing it with a couple of spoons of spoons of honey some mixed seeds and some cinnamon / ginger. Also sometimes put some dried fruit / raisins in the finishes mixed. Must say Jack’s reckon us v moreish!
Just found this and it’s in the oven right now. It’s a sort of flapjacky recipe, isn’t it? I added a bit of mixed spice to it, just because . . . Thanks, Jack, it will make a change from the usual.
J x
Jack, thanks very much for this really cool recipe. My little boy and I just made it this afternoon and it tasted amazing. Much tastier and better value than the supermarket alternative and even better when it’s still warm!
Genius! followed the recipe to the letter & we loved it! Quick, easy, thrifty, delicious, can’t beat it
made this yesterday – husbands eaten it all already!! Mqaking the apple crumble one next nom nom nom nom x
This is currently in the oven. I accidentally used less oats (200g instead of 300g) but it still seemed so dry I melted more PB & honey. Might double liquid next time and make flapjack/breakfast bars. Smells divine!
Just made this because i’ve ran out of cereal and didn’t fancy porridge. Turned out great and i had everything in the cupboards so very cheap to make seeing as a bag can set you back £3 odd. Can’t wait to try different flavours. Thanks for the recipe!
I’ve got this in the oven now but instead of peanut butter i’ve got hazlenut butter that I bought on a whim and can’t eat on toast etc (the texture is far too squeaky on my teeth). It tasted amazing before I stuck in in to cook so high hopes for it coming out. I only used 3 tbsp of honey and a wee dash of vegetable oil in it too 😀
I have been making a batch of this every week for about a month its my absolute favourite breakfast with a sprinkling of chocolate chips.
Love this recipe. Split it into two lots, one remained true to Jack’s recipe but to the other added some flaked almonds prior to cooking and some finely chopped dates and apricots after – all three small amounts left over from a tagine recipe. This will be another addition to my home-made pressie repertoir. Love this blog. Always inspired.
This is delicious!
Just put mine in the oven. I used macadamia butter because I have some at home (I keep my peanut butter on my desk at work!) and added some chia seeds.
Not sure why anyone would say this isn’t good for you – it’s oats! Thanks for the lovely idea.
I am moving flat in a few weeks and I have half a sack of rolled oats to use up, which I really don’t want to throw out. I can stretch a bag out to six months, as you use surprisingly little for one portion of porridge! I bought your second book and I saw this recipe. Granola is usually so expensive in the supermarket, so this is a real treat. I will give this recipe a try. I bought peanut butter especially – I will use the rest in your peanut butter bread.
Thank you so much for sharing your frugal wisdom Jack.
I am moving flat in a few weeks and I have half a sack of rolled oats to use up, which I really don’t want to throw out. I can stretch a bag out to six months, as you use surprisingly little for one portion of porridge! I bought your second book and I saw this recipe. Granola is usually so expensive in the supermarket, so this is a real treat and big money saver. I will give this recipe a try. I bought peanut butter especially – I will use the rest in your peanut butter bread.
Thank you so much for sharing your frugal wisdom Jack.
I had the tail-ends of some almond butter and brazil nut butter in the fridge so I used those instead of peanut butter today, honey instead of golden syrup, and threw in a couple of handfuls of mixed nuts. Turned out great.
And today I will be trying it with black treacle…
Looks ace! Spotted a typo though:
Melt the **butter**, peanut butter and golden syrup together – either in a medium saucepan on a low heat for a minute or two, or in the microwave on full power for 30 seconds – and stir to combine.
Add the oats and mix well to coat then in the **butter*-peanut-syrup mixture.
Lovely ☺ 600g jars of Sun Pat are currently on offer in Waitrose for £1.99.
Great recipe! And I always really appreciate when things are vegan. 🙂
Am going to try this with quinoa flakes, fingers crossed they hold together, can’t have oats as they’ve got gluten and I’m coeliac. Will report back!
Yum Yum Yum! This is such a simple and delicious looking recipe, a must try. Thank you for sharing. / Sufi
Wow. Sounds tasty! I will definately try this!
I now make this regularly with black treacle, and I throw in a handful of mixed nuts & raisins too.
This sounds yummy! It looks simply to prepare this. For me definitely will add some topping likes raisin! Thanks for sharing
I’ve been keeping an eye on cost of “wholenut” peanut butter since my old favourite Whole Earth started to go up in price. My new favourite is Waitrose (amazingly) Essential wholenut – it costs £1.50 for 340g (44.1p per 100g) and has no added sugar so it’s not over sweet. I make a trip every few weeks and get 4 at a time. I get bread if it’s reduced, and if it’s treat time I get a curry; much better tasting, which makes it worth saving up for.
PS this govt makes me feel like emigrating to Syria. Love and peace to all the strugglers out there.
Just try this recipe and it turns up well! The kitchen is full with the smells and delicious! Thanks
This looks amazing! Out if interest what would you add to this to make it into granola bars?
I made granola bars out of it. Just doubled the liquid. I’m guessing you could add dried fruit to it?
I’ve been itching to try this so I finally did today! Changed it a bit and doubled the liquid part so I could make granola bars instead. I got 32 out of it and at 3p each I am pretty happy! Thanks 🙂
Sorry if this is a repeat. I’m not sure my comment went through.
I’ve been itching to try this recipe and finally got round to it today. I doubled the liquid part though to make granola bars instead 😉 they came out great. Got 32 bars out of it and works out at 3p so I’m happy! A nice healthy treat on a low budget! Thanks x
Not on that, but have raise awareness for those non Radio 4 listens – A girl called jack is being dramatised at 10.45 am and presumably 7.45 pm? all next week.
1kg of rolled oats 75p in the Tesco near me 🙂
Just made this (not this really at all once I’d finished), I had some claggy almond butter at the bottom of a jar that was too thick to spread – and as almond just aren’t as nice as peanuts I added a bit of cacoa powder (a gift from my Costco loving mum), Then I finely chopped in some dried mango – food of the Gods, and tossed in some seeds. It looks v.posh, thanks for the idea.
This sounds amazing. Gonna have to try making this. Thanks so much for sharing.
Simon
What oil would you recommend please?