Granola Recipe: Chocolate Covered Pretzel Granola Clusters (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Bren

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My kids are carb addicts. They love snacks that are sweet and crunchy. I want their snacks to be nutritious (even more than I want to be the fun mom who gives into their sugary demands). One snack we agree on is Chocolate Covered Pretzel Granola Clusters. The granola recipe has enough sweetness to please kids, but is packed full of healthy ingredients such as whole oats, wheat germ, flax seed and coconut oil.

Granola Recipe: Chocolate Covered Pretzel Granola Clusters (1)

I love having healthy snacks in our pantry. Unfortunately they often lack the “excitement” that processed snacks possess. Especially when kids are comparing lunches at school. My kids understand which foods are healthy, but that doesn’t reduce the desire of a 12-year-old to eat Ding-dongs, Cheetos and soda for lunch if that’s what the other kids are eating.

Granola Recipe: Chocolate Covered Pretzel Granola Clusters (2)

I’ve found that making my own creative snacks with interesting ingredients can help to tempt their taste buds and satisfy their need for “desirable” lunch box items. Chocolate chip granola bars are a kid pleaser, but get a little boring. Pretzels seem to suffer the same fate, they start off interesting but halfway through the bag the kids are done.

Granola Recipe: Chocolate Covered Pretzel Granola Clusters (3)

The kids love helping me make granola bars and I love making my own granola. We also enjoy Kind Granola Clusters. These ideas call came together when I read Lovely little Kitchen’s Pretzel Granola recipe and Cookies and Cups’ secret ingredient for making “clumpy” granola clusters.

Granola Recipe: Chocolate Covered Pretzel Granola Clusters (4)

I modified our favorite granola bars ingredients and came up with this delicious recipe for Chocolate Covered Pretzel Granola Clusters. It’s an easy recipe that makes a great snack for kids and adults. A ½ cup serving contains 268 calories, 4.3 g fiber and 6.2 g protein.

Granola Recipe: Chocolate Covered Pretzel Granola Clusters (5)

I hope you try making this granola recipe. It’s a snack your whole family can enjoy and you can feel good about making.

Granola Recipe: Chocolate Covered Pretzel Granola Clusters (6)

Granola Recipe: Chocolate Covered Pretzel Granola Clusters (7)

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Granola Recipe: Chocolate Covered Pretzel Granola Clusters (8)

Chocolate Covered Pretzel Granola Clusters

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  • Author: Bren
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 10 cups 1x
  • Category: Snacks
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Chocolate Covered Pretzel Granola Clusters are salty-sweet snacking dream! Made with healthy ingredients such as whole oats, wheat germ, flax seed & coconut oil.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 3 cups old fashioned oats
  • 2 cups puffed rice cereal (I use Rice Krispies)
  • 1 cups pretzels crushed
  • 1 1/2 cups pretzels broken into 1/41/2 inch pieces
  • 3/4 cup wheat germ
  • 3/4 tbsp flax seed meal
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil (melted)
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp coarse sea salt (optional)
  • 1 egg white (beaten until foamy)
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 320°
  2. Line a large (approx 12 in x19 in ) baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. Crush pretzels. You can use a rolling pin and a plastic bag to make the job easier.
  4. Mix oats, puffed rice cereal, pretzels (crushed and broken), wheat germ, and flax seed in a large bowl.
  5. In a small bowl combine brown sugar, honey, coconut oil, and vanilla extract.
  6. Pour coconut oil mixture over oat mixture.
  7. Mix until evenly combined. It can help to toss the mixture with two spoons like you are making a salad.
  8. Beat the egg white with a whisk until very frothy.
    Granola Recipe: Chocolate Covered Pretzel Granola Clusters (9)
  9. Spoon half over the oat mixture and toss to combine. Spoon remaining egg white over oat mixture and toss to combine.
    Granola Recipe: Chocolate Covered Pretzel Granola Clusters (10)
  10. Sprinkle salt over oats and stir to combine.
  11. Pour mixture onto parchment lined baking sheet and spread to evenly distribute.
  12. Press the mixture down lightly.
  13. Bake the granola for 20 minutes, do not stir.
  14. Remove granola pan from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the top.
  15. Return pan to oven and immediately turn off the oven. Leave the pan in the oven and allow it to cool completely.
  16. Once the granola is cool (you should be able to pick up the pan with your bare hands) place it on your counter top and allow the chocolate chips to harden.
  17. Use a small spatula or table knife to break the granola into half dollar size pieces.
  18. Store the granola in an air tight container and use in 10 days.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/2 cup
  • Calories: 310

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Becky

    Family favorite! We love the salty sweet combo.

    Reply

  2. Stephanie

    YUM! I love anything with chocolate and pretzels!

    Reply

    • Bren

      Me too, sweet + salty = the bomb!

      Reply

  3. Julie Horihan

    oh yum! I am SO going to make this.

    Reply

    • Bren

      Thanks Julie! Maybe I should apologize now, it’s addictive!

      Reply

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Granola Recipe: Chocolate Covered Pretzel Granola Clusters (2024)

FAQs

What ingredient makes granola stick together? ›

Add an egg white.

The whites act as a kind of glue that binds the ingredients together. To ensure that the egg whites coat all the ingredients, I beat them with a whisk until foamy and increased in volume, which makes it much easier to fold into the granola.

What is granola clusters made of? ›

Summary of Homemade Granola Clusters:

Wholesome treat made with oats, almonds, and maple syrup. A little salty and sweet, wonderful maple flavor. Energy-packed snack you'll feel good about eating. Vegan, egg-free, and gluten free if using certified GF oats.

What can I eat granola with? ›

Roll strawberries or bananas in nut butter (or a nut-free substitute) and top with Chocolate Granola for a sweet treat. Jazz up a pudding cup with your granola of choice. Top baked fruit, such as apples, with a generous handful of granola. Mix granola into muffin, brownie or cake batter.

Can you put granola in oatmeal? ›

Homemade Oatmeal with Granola & Pears

Place the oats in a microwave safe bowl, and add the salt and water. Microwave for one and a half minutes. Mix in the sugar and milk. Top with the cinnamon, pear, Craisins, and granola.

What is the best binder for granola? ›

Nut butter is a super flavorful fat that serves multiple purposes in granola. It acts as a binding agent—along with additional coconut oil and whatever natural sweetener I've chosen—helping to pull the dry ingredients together into a wet, sticky mass for baking.

What is a good binder for granola? ›

Chia seeds are often praised for their binding powers. In fact, they secure ingredients so well that they can even be used as an egg replacer. Adding just a spoonful of chia seeds to your favorite granola bar recipe will make a huge difference in its texture.

Why are homemade granola not crunchy? ›

Baking time: Increase the baking time for your granola. The longer you bake it, the drier and crunchier it will become. Keep a close eye on it to avoid burning, and stir it occasionally during baking to ensure even toasting.

What is the difference between granola and oat clusters? ›

The primary difference between oatmeal and granola is that oatmeal is made from whole oat grains that have been cooked at a higher temperature than usual to gelatinize the starch. Granola contains rolled oats, fruits, honey, raisins, almonds, and other components.

What was the downside to granola as a food? ›

Granola may prompt weight gain if eaten in excess, as it can be high in calories from added fats and sugars. What's more, sugar is linked to chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

Is it OK to eat granola every day? ›

Yes, granola can be eaten daily. As part of a balanced diet and if the portions are checked. Go for healthier options with less added sugars and saturated fats to get the most out of it.

Is granola better with milk or yogurt? ›

Yogurt and granola can be genuinely healthy, depending on the yogurt and granola you use. There are better and unhealthy forms of the two fixings. The best blend is Greek yogurt with granola, which is high in protein and fiber.

Is granola good for your stomach? ›

Granola is healthy in small amounts, especially because oats, nuts, seeds and dried fruit in granola provide some fiber that's good for heart and gut health. However, granola can also be a rich source of calories, saturated fat and sugar, depending on the brand you buy.

Is granola or oatmeal healthier? ›

Both oatmeal and granola make for a healthy, nutritious breakfast, but the winner for us is granola—the added nuts, seeds, and dried fruits give you a source of fiber and healthy fats that oatmeal can't quite compete with.

Is granola with milk healthier than cereal? ›

While both granola and cereal may seem similar, there are significant differences between the two. Granola is a healthier, more nutrient-dense, and joyfully versatile option that will not only make your taste buds dance but also keep your body happy and healthy.

Is it OK to eat granola for breakfast? ›

Granola is commonly associated with breakfast, and it's a delicious way to start the day! Granola gets typically made up of rolled oats, nuts, and honey or maple syrup. It can be served over yogurt or mixed into your favorite baked goods for breakfast or as a midday snack.

How do you hold granola together? ›

Honey – Along with the nut butter, it helps all these ingredients stick together! I love its warm amber flavor in this recipe.

How do you make granola bind? ›

Make sure that whichever granola recipe you use, it calls for some liquid, typically oil of some kind (I recommend olive oil for a subtle earthy, floral flavor, or melted unrefined coconut oil for subtly coconutty flavor). The liquid will help the chia seeds to gel, ensuring the granola sticks together.

What is the glue in granola bars? ›

While the oats and nuts bake, you can make the sticky glue that holds our bars together. You'll melt butter, honey, and brown sugar in a saucepan and simmer until the sugar dissolves. Mix this sticky mixture with the toasted oats and nuts.

What is the main ingredient in chewy granola bars? ›

GRANOLA (WHOLE GRAIN OATS, BROWN SUGAR, BROWN RICE CRISP [WHOLE GRAIN BROWN RICE FLOUR, SUGAR, SALT], WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT, SOYBEAN OIL, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, BAKING SODA, SOY LECITHIN, NONFAT DRY MILK), CORN SYRUP, BROWN RICE CRISP (WHOLE GRAIN BROWN RICE FLOUR, SUGAR, SALT), SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS (SUGAR, CHOCOLATE ...

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