I try not to go into Whole Foods but I live very close to one and find myself there far too often.
When I’m there I especially try to avoid the bulk bins or at least try to recreate bulk bin items at home.
A sample of this and that and I could make a dinner out of bulk bin and hot bar samples. No shame.
One thing that I don’t just sample and actually buy is the ‘PB & J Granola’. It’s very chewy, a little bit gooey, slightly crunchy, and highly addictive. I love it and decided to try a DIY version.
It’s a one-bowl, no mixer, easy recipe and after studying the label on the bulk bin, I learned the granola is made with peanut butter, honey, oats, oat bran, chopped peanuts, raisins, and dried strawberries.
I used conventional honey-roasted peanut butter and haven’t tried using natural or homemade peanut butter or other nut butter such as almond butter. They tend to be runnier, thinner, and adjustments to the dry ingredients will likely need to be made.
Rather than using dried strawberries because they’re ungodly expensive and would require a special online order for most people, I used dried cranberries. I love the chewiness and natural sweetness the dried fruit provides but I know some people loathe raisins. If you’re not a fan of raisins or dried cranberries, substitute with an alternate dried fruit.
I used a bit of oat bran which I buy from the bulk bins, but if you don’t keep it on hand or don’t want to buy it, grind old-fashioned whole-rolled oats in your food processor or blender for about 30 seconds.
The granola will keep for up to a month and I suggest giving lots of it away because it’s pretty dangerous to have around. A nibble, a handful, and seven handfuls later. So good.
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Peanut Butter and Jelly Granola (Whole Foods Copycat)
The granola is very chewy, a little bit gooey, slightly crunchy, and highly addictive. It’s a one-bowl, no mixer, easy recipe. I used conventional honey-roasted peanut butter and haven’t tried using natural or homemade peanut butter or other nut butter. I love the chewiness and natural sweetness the dried fruit provides but you can substitute with an alternate dried fruit. You may possibly be able to omit the dried fruit entirely if you add more dry ingredients, although I haven’t tried. I used a bit of oat bran but if you don’t keep it on hand, grind old-fashioned whole-rolled oats in your food processor or blender for about 30 seconds.
Ingredients
- heaping 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (I used conventional honey-roasted peanut butter)
- 3/4 cup honey
- 2 cups old-fashioned whole-rolled oats (not quick-cook or instant because they behave like flour and will make mixture too dry)
- 1 cup finely chopped lightly salted or salted peanuts (love my Mini-Prep Plus 4-Cup Food Processor
- 3/4 cup raisins
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup oat bran (often found in bulk bins or substitute with 1/2 cup oat flour by grinding 1/2 cup whole-rolled oats in food processor or blender for 30 seconds)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste (the saltiness level in peanut butter and peanuts varies greatly)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F, line a baking sheet with a Silpat Non-Stick Baking Mat, parchment paper, or spray with cooking spray; set aside.
- To a large microwave-safe bowl, add the peanut butter (haven’t tried using natural or homemade peanut butter or other nut butter such as almond butter; they tend to be runnier, thinner, and adjustments to the dry ingredients will likely need to be made), honey (haven’t tried with agave or maple syrup), heat on high power for 30 seconds to soften, and stir to combine.
- Add all remaining ingredients and stir to combine. If you don’t like raisins or dried cranberries, substitute with an alternate dried fruit or you may possibly be able to omit dried fruit entirely if you add more dry ingredients, although I haven’t tried so cannot comment on exact measurements.
- Turn mixture out on prepared baking sheet. It’ll take up the entire baking sheet and while you don’t want to hard-pack it, make sure it’s a fairly flat layer and all pieces are of uniform height because higher pieces will have a tendency to burn. Bake for about 13 to 15 minutes.
- Remove tray from oven and using a spatula (like you’d use to flip eggs or burgers), flip sections of the granola over until it’s all been flipped. I prefer flipping to stirring because I think it cooks more evenly.
- Return tray to oven and bake for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until granola is lightly browned, keeping in mind that granola will cook a slight bit more as it rests and cools on baking tray. Keep a watchful eye on it after you’ve flipped it because it can be prone to burning. Granola firms up as it cools. Allow granola to cool for at least 1 hour on baking tray (or overnight and exposed to air if you prefer it to be drier) before serving. Granola will keep airtight for 3 to 4 weeks.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 325Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 168mgCarbohydrates: 44gFiber: 3gSugar: 35gProtein: 5g
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I make our granola weekly and I was looking for new flavors when I found your recipe. Averie, have you tried using more of a drying oven temperature rather than a baking oven temperature? I dry-bake my granola at 230 Fahrenheit degrees for three hours. It comes out of the oven beautifully, in large and small chunks (the oil keeps the clusters together) with no need to flip. Definitely going to try this with raisins soaked in grape juice so they don’t get too dry in the oven. Who doesn’t like grape jelly, right?
I have done it in a dehydrator before at about 115F but that took forever! Your method sounds great as does soaking the raisins in grape juice!
I just made this & it is A-MA-ZING! Ended up making 3 batches…first one as written, 2nd one with Sunbutter, pure maple syrup & sunflower seeds & no dried fruit so my toddler can eat it, 3rd one with regular Jif Naturals PB & agave, also w/o the fruit for my dad who is diabetic. The original is my favorite & the one with agave comes in a strong 2nd! The Sunbutter one didn’t brown as much but still tasted good.
Thanks for trying the recipe (3 ways!!) and I’m glad it came out great for you! How cool that you adapted things based on various family member’s needs. Glad to hear the original was your fave but that the other two versions were still great!
this is almost dangerous to make as I will eat the whole thing! homemade granola is the way to go!
Hi! Â Could you use natural peanut butter for this or even homemade peanut butter? Â Thank you!
I haven’t tested the recipe that way and don’t recommend it because it could be too runny, separate, etc. and the granola wouldn’t turn out properly then.
I have made this several times now and we LOVE it! I have shared it with friends and get requests all the time  for more! I use dried blueberries and also add chia seeds and hemp seeds.  Seriously addicting! Thank you so much for this recipe!!
Thanks for trying the recipe and glad it came out great for you and that it’s on rotation! Dried blueberries are amazing and I bet with the chia and hemp seeds, your granola is awesome! I want some :)
We used to live really close to a WF too, and when we moved in October, I didn’t know whether to celebrate or cry. My wallet leaned toward the former, but… Life without WF (and TJ’s — I had to give them up too) just isn’t the same! It’s probably a good thing I didn’t find this granola there though. Granola is one of my out-of-control foods (along with ice cream) and it doesn’t matter how much I portion out… At least half of the bag always disappears in one go!
I made this recipe as is with exception I used all dried cranberries as I don’t like raisins. It is great!
Thanks for trying the recipe the day after I posted it and I’m glad it came out great for you (minus the raisins)!
This looks amazing! All those clusters and I love the pbj combo, I could live on it even though I’m a grown adult! It’s a good thing I don’t live by a whole foods or I too would be in there far too often.
I live way too close…I’m in there more than I’d like to admit…whoops!
Averie, I feel the same about whole foods, as much as I try to avoid going to that place somehow I end up there for some reason!
I find it too dangerous on my wallet as it gets hard to resist and I find myself like lost puppy in there hehe!! Any how I am so glad you created this copycat version! So making it this weekend!
If you try it, LMK how it goes!
I could never ever in a million years avoid WF! I would just make this at home so I could there and buy other things… so serious!! =)
Yum! I try to avoid the bulk bin too, but I’m not always successful :)
WOW! I love the idea of PB & J granola. I will need to try some the next time I’m at WF. Or actually, I should just make this recipe and save some money in the process! Thanks for a great recipe. Pinning this so I can make it sometime soon!
Thanks for pinning!
Oh my sweet baby jesus.
I never buy granola because I’m so picky abotu it – I want it sweet, but not too sweet, soft but not too soft and DEFINITELY not crunchy. Raisins are fine, but not if they are tiny and hard. And I find that most times the nuts in granola taste burnt.
But this? I would eat it all in one go.
I never buy granola either EXCEPT that WF’s PB& J one. Omg Katie. So unreal. I did give it my total all in trying to recreate it because like you, the texture thing is huge for me. Some granola is so HARD, like it’s beyond crunchy, it’s just straight up like biting into cement.
And yes, the whole burnt thing with the dried fruit or the nuts. I will say that I have made my share of burnt fruit/nuts granola because I’ve cooked it longer than I thought I needed to for the oats to firm up and the add-ins get a little burnt/hard but have learned the oats firm upon cooling so much, so underbaking is better for me at least!
I don’t think we have Whole Foods in Canada, so I’ve never had the joy of tasting their PB&J granola. Your version looks delicious! I can’t resist anything PB!
This looks so yummy! I’m a big peanut butter jelly fan and Whole Foods is too far for me to try their granola. So this is perfect!
OMG I had no idea Whole Foods has PB&J granola. Going tomorrow so I can buy a ton before we move to the land of no Whole Foods. I’ll be glad I have your recipe when we get there! It looks awesome!
I had no idea either until just a few months ago and I’ve been living down the block from this WF’s for like…10 years. Whoops! Well actually that’s good b/c I love granola way too much!
Good luck with your move – it’s such an evil chore!!!! Hang in there!
This would not last long here! Love it!
I don’t think I’ve ever even stepped inside a Whole Foods. We don’t have them in Australia and I don’t think there’s one on Vancouver Island in Canada either (where I’m originally from). But this sounds so delightful I wish I’d been able to try it! Peanut butter and jelly granola – I would’ve been all over that! Thankfully, I’m almost out of granola, so I’ll be sure to make this next. Thanks!
I haven’t tried something with peanut butter for a long time but I absolutely love it and will certainly try this. Last time my dog got to the jar :D and I had to use professional house cleaning services but now I know better
This granola looks so delicious. I don’t have a Whole Foods store near me, nor have I tried granola like this recipe, but it sure sounds good. I could it something like this for days.
What can peanut butter and jelly not improve. Seriously. And love that all the fat comes from the peanut butter, no more oil needed or anything!
I’m sure we probably shop at the same WFs. If you ever see someone hoarding the bulk bin PBJ granola, that would be me :) But yes, no oil in mine or butter, etc. The PB is all you need!
I don’t have a Whole Foods nearby so I’ve never had the pleasure of trying their PB&J granola. But now that I know I can make some at home, this is SO happening!
It’s actually a good thing there’s not one terribly close to you…Dangerous on so many levels :)
Oh my goodness – this sounds fantastic! I am so addicted to granola – I love this vegan and refined sugar-free version!
A month. That’s funny – this would last about 5 minutes. I’ve never had the whole foods version but PB granola is my kryptonite so I bet this is amazing.
Dude, so amazing. And yeah I always laugh when I’m writing down storage options because I know in 99.9% of situations, it’ll be gone in a day or a few. But then every once in awhile I get the…I made these cookies and a week later they were still soft!! (As I think…can I have some of your willpower please!)
I love homemade granola! I haven’t had this one from Trader Joe’s but I bet your version is way better and less heavy on the wallet. I can’t wait to try it!
We love homemade granola in our house! My husband eats a peanut butter and jelly sandwich after dinner almost every night. What a great way to combine the two!
I love that he eats a PB&J sandwich AFTER dinner almost every night. Wish I had his metabolism :)
I haven’t had this granola, but it looks fantastic and since I eat peanut butter by the spoonfuls I’m sure I’d love it! Have a great day Averie!
I love it wayyyy too much :) Hence, we run.
This looks amazing, but granola is a weakness of mine. I just can’t have it around, because I’ll eat it all. It’s just… so addictive and delicious.
I cannot even buy the WFs one anymore because I will eat it ALL in like a sitting :) This was dangerous to have around too!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who is obsessed with Whole Foods granola. The Apple Cinnamon and Blueberry Almond are not allowed in my house because I will eat the entire container in one sitting. Thank you for posting a DIY recipe. I’m looking forward to recreating this one over the weekend. HELLO SUNDAY BRUNCH!
I cannot even buy the WFs PB&J one anymore because I will eat it ALL in like a sitting :) This was dangerous to have around too! And as I blow past all the other amazing bulk bin granolas to get to ‘mine’ I dare not even sample those, creating even more issues for myself :) I have seen the BB Almond one you’re talking about and pretend it’s not there!
I have not had this granola from WF, but I am obsessed with anything Pb and J, because I am secretly 5 years old. So this healthy Pb and J with a crunch is totally my jam! Pinned!
Thanks for pinning and anything PB I am obsessed with too :) Trying to convince editors when I was writing PB Comfort that it wasn’t just for 5 year olds took some doing! Lol
Nope, no Whole Foods where I live but when I visit other states, I confess I call it Whole Paycheck!
Much rather make a granola like this PB & J for a fraction of the cost! (it’s like Batman and Robin, they just go!) or Anna and Kristoff, you get the drift! Even granola ain’t that cheap anyone! Can only imagine how it’s going to smell wafting out my kitchen =)
Granola is NOT cheap anymore. The one I get at WFs I believe is 8.99 or 9.99 per lb? Something like that. Small handful, about 5 bucks. I know, bad, bad, bad. Which is why I am making it!
Granola is like “cereal crack” for me. I’d have to make a little bit and bake it on the mini pan in my toaster oven for damage control. This does look incredible….I’m picturing yogurt parfaits and ice cream topping!
When I made this, I was actually picturing my couch, bad reality TV shows I have taped on my DVR and alternating handfuls of this with like…red wine :) But yogurt parfaits sound way healthier!
My weakness at whole foods is yogurt covered raisins..I have no willpower to stop eating them so I just can’t buy them. I love this granola recipe pb&j is one of my favorites only not in a sandwich form I mix peanut butter and some jelly in a bowl together and eat it.. so good. Can’t wait to try this.
You are truly a PB lover if you can sit down to a bowl of PB with some J mixed in – I think you should have been my taste tester when I was writing PB Comfort! What I would have given!
And their yogurt covered pretzels are my other weakness. Hence this post https://www.averiecooks.com/2015/01/easy-homemade-white-chocolate-pretzels.html THEIR pretzels taste wayyyy better than anyone else’s. I have tried other stores’ bulk bins, cheaper stores, etc. and the WFs ones are the best. I also love their yog raisins but haven’t ‘studied’ those as much as the pretzels but all of that stuff is just crazy addictive!
Great recipe! I’m totally into self-made granola despite the fact it easily burns if I don’t watch it carefully. I just made granola this weekend with coconut oil, cinnamon, honey, nuts and oats. Ever since then, I could not survive a day without it (so very similar to your granola addiction). Once my stash is gone I’ll definately give your version a try!
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There’s a Whole Foods located 5 minutes from my home – it’s definitely impossible to stay away, haha.
Love this granola variety!