Despite being a born-and-bred Aussie, I have to admit that there are certain things that America does better than Australia. (In my humble opinion, that is.)
These include:
- Theme Parks. (Dear The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, one day you and I shall be as one.)
- Flavouring everything and anything with peanut butter and/or bacon.
- Holding onto the belief that even the most inane local news ought to trump significant international events. (Dear CNN during late 2007, I shall never stop laughing at you for incessantly covering an American high school teacher’s affair with her student throughout the weekend in which Australia experienced a complete change in federal government. I had to wait three days for internet access in order to find out John Howard had finally been deposed.)
- Breeding an army of pointless and physically indistinguishable starlets (Dear Vanessa Hudgens and Jessica Szohr, I honestly can’t tell you apart. Same goes for you, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato. Dear Myself: I wish I didn’t even know those names.)
- Granola.
Oh, granola. Why is Australian muesli such a paltry, insipid, and lacklustre shadow of your magnificence?
Oh, right. I remember now. You, granola, involve deliciously high levels of fat and sugar along with a necessary toasting process, whereas you, muesli, often skate over the line into lame-o “health” with your non-clumpy rawness and lack of flavours that go pop-de-pop-bop-pop.
Well, folks, I’m here to rectify Australia’s sore lack of awesome pop-de-pop-bop-pop granolas. For myself, first and foremost, but for you too. You only need recreate the below and future granola recipes to experience your own little slice of Granola-Is-Not-Muesli Heaven.
Particularly because, in fit of womanly multi-tasking, I decided to hit two birds with one stone and combine #2 and #5 from the above list. I present to you: Peanut Butter Granola.
This was my first time making granola and, golly gosh, was I ever pleased with the result. A few things to keep in mind if you plan on making this, though. I purposely kept mine not-too-sweet, so if you prefer a bigger wallop of sweetness, I recommend going for the 3 tablespoons (60ml) of sweetener, or perhaps even 80ml. Or you could stir in some dried cherries, craisins, dates, or raisins at the end, for a fruitier sugar hit.
Also, the cardamom was mostly unnoticeable in my batch, so when I make this again I’m going to double the amount to 1/2 tsp. If you aren’t a fan of cardamom, simply leave it out, or replace it with cinnamon.
Those of you who, like me, enjoy finding ways to fit peanut butter into every meal… this recipe is for you. I sprinkled the granola over maple-sweetened yoghurt and over oatmeal, but mostly I ate it straight. Over the course of two days.
(This peanut butter granola is almost as good as the granola I made yesterday, which was oh dear holy bucket one of the most amazing things I’ve ever created off the top of my head ever really hyperbole hyperbole! But you’ll have to wait for that recipe. Teehee.)
Peanut Butter Granola (with Cardamom, if that floats your boat)
Roughly adapted from How Sweet Eats
- 1 1/2 cups (135g) rolled oats
- 1/4 cup (25g) oatbran
- 2 tb (40ml/25g) flaxmeal
- 1/4 cup (60g) peanut butter (crunchy crunchy crunchy!)
- 2 – 3 tb (40-60ml) honey/agave syrup/maple syrup, or more, to taste
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom (optional – and I’m going to double this next time, because I’m on a serious cardamom kick)
- Preheat oven to 160°C (350°F), and line a baking tray with baking paper.
- In a medium bowl, stir together rolled oats, oatbran, and flaxmeal.
- In small jug, microwave the peanut butter and honey or about 30 seconds, or until honey has melted a little and the two can be stirred together easily. Add the vanilla and cardamom to the honey and peanut butter mixture, then pour over the oat mixture.
- Stir together until no stray oatbran or flaxmeal is lingering at the bottom of the bowl. If you’ve only used the 40ml of honey, this may take a good bit of mixing. I assume, with more liquid, the granola will come together more easily.
- Spread out onto a baking tray and bake for 15 – 20 minutes, checking after 15 to make sure it isn’t burning. I left mine in for 16 minutes and some of the granola clumps at the edges were starting to brown a little too much. Which was awesome, because I got to eat them straight off the tray, so as not to mar the granola overall.
- Try not to eat the entire batch straight off the tray as it cools. Though no judgement from my end if you do. In fact, I’ll probably respect you more…
I prefer raw oats
You poor thing.
(Except I actually do eat raw oats sometimes.)
So cute! this definitely looks like a treat-breakfast, which the yanks do so well. Worth a try though by the looks of things. And there is no way I wouldn’t not eat the whole lot hot off the tray!
Treat-breakfast is a great way to describe this! Except, of course, I eat chocolate every morning, so I’m quite used to treat-breakfasts
Ughhh… i HATE flavours that don’t go pop-de-pop-bop-pop!!!
On the other hand, i LOVE you for your granola enthusiasm. It assures me that we are truly soul/belly-mates and should be together for always. Once I figure out how to use the oven in my new place (oh, how it taunts me… all I want is cookies and lasagne and they are just outside my grasp!), I am making 500 batches of different versions of this. And my life will be complete and amazing. And delicious. And crunchy.
It really, really will. Life gets infinitely better when peanut butter granola is involved. And even MORE infinitely better when the other granola I created comes into existence, too. Gosh, I want more of both of them right now…
Pop-de-pop-bop-pop!
that sounds so amazing, I might have to make it before I go back to eating gluten
and I really need to get us to get more peanut butter action
Definitely! Although oats are gluten-free, if you can source them from a company that doesn’t also produce/package gluten-containing grains. I don’t know how available gluten-free oats are in Australia, though…
And all that aside… yes indeedy, everyone needs more peanut butter action!
Word. And it’s my dream to go to Harry Potter world too! I mean does that not look like the most fun on earth?
What’s the bet you’ll get asked to go for your blog soon? PLEASE take me with you when you do…
YES! I am studying abroad in Australia, and while I love it immensely, one of the things I miss most about home is granola (wait…is that sad?). It’s just not that popular here, and any actual granola I find (sorry, “toasted muesli”) is outrageously expensive. Thanks for the recipe.
Hi Meghan! Great to hear that I’m not crazy in making this muesli/granola distinction. I hope you pop by again later on, I’ve got another granola recipe up my sleeve that is intense and utterly delicious, if I do say so myself
Where in the States are you from?
From the lovely state of Texas. And I’m in Sydney right now.
Oh lovely! I spent five days in Austin a few years back and loved it heart and soul. That enormous Whole Foods…
If you ever decide to pop down and visit Canberra, let me know!
That Whole Foods is my mecca…Probably one of my favorite places on Earth. And I might actually come down to Canberra for a day or two at the end of the semester; if I do I’ll let you know!
I distinctly remember thinking “this is what heaven must look like” when I first stepped in the doors. Fo’ shiz.
And yes, definitely stay in touch!
Nice job with the granola – looks like we need to watch out for some competition here
Absolutely… I’m going to singlehandedly make Australia a granola nation!
I need to try adding cardamom! I love it too, I bet it is fabulous in there!
It really works – the cardamom plays off the earthy-nuttiness of peanut butter brilliantly
I resolutely stick to muesli rather than granola because we need diversity in the English langauge and isn’t Australia the place to find it!
And I believe that all home made muesli is far better than shop bought – though I confess I always toast the ones I have tried – I even tried making muesli bars last week and they fell apart so I was quite happy with muesli
have never felt brave enough to try peanut butter in muesli – much prefer some dried fruit – will save my PB for toast – I like it in savoury foods more than in sweet. (re number 5 – isn’t peanut butter used predominately to flavour sweet foods in America or am I wrong?)
Ah, but see if you’d made granola bars, everything would’ve turned out magically!
Though my feeling is that muesli and granola aren’t just different words for the same thing… granola tends to be clumpier and richer and more… well… over-the-top American
I think you’re right that most peanut-butter flavoured treats are sweet, but there are also a lot of spicy-flavoured peanut butter jars that work well in savoury sandwiches/sauces/etc!
The general obsession with peanut butter in the US of A is one I do wish would translate here. And peanut butter granola?! Let me Ctrl+P!
Amen, sister! Though I’ve seen a bit on your blog that Sydney restaurants are occasionally embracing peanuts in dessert… if only that would translate to Canberra and mainstream snacks!
OMG!! I HAVE to have some of this granola! You had me at peanut butter…
1. Oh yes…I can barely stand to see pictures of this wonderful Wizarding World because I just get so jealous. One day, one day…
2. I love peanut butter (again, a twang of jealousy)
3. Hmmm, we do manage to get a whole lot of local news here…pretty exciting viewing on a slow news day (which, let’s be honest here, is most days!). I wish I could think of an example because there have been some crackers recently!
4. I realise they do this better but is that necessarily a good thing?!
5. Well yes but I think you’ve highlighted the reasons! It’s like eating dessert…at breakfast time. Definitely a positive.
Oooh, let me know what you think if you make it! But save some pantry space for the next granola – it’s killer
1. Let’s go together. Now.
2. *swoon*
3. My housemate mutters “slow news day” at least six times a week. But I figure it’s better than the alternative, right?
4. I never said it was a good thing that they do these better
5. The only breakfasts I truly love are the dessert ones.
*blink*
*blink*
WHY IS THERE NOT A BOWL/BUCKET OF THAT GRANOLA IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW? It’s just… beautiful…
Occasionally I buy Crunchola at the supermarket but generally I don’t mind muesli — for breakfast. The rest of the day I would be happy to be eating this granola (preferably from a feed-bag strapped to my face) and it should be made from all sorts of exciting crunchy, sugary, fatty things. This looks like the perfect thing to take to work, when I pretend that all the hard work I’m doing requires this sort of “brain food” (my brain uses glucose — I need sugar, not that alleged “brain food” salmon! Actually I would eat raw salmon at my desk if I could get any, but I don’t know anywhere in Brisbane that does sashimi-grade fish, boooo).
Ah an HP fan, are you? You will be interested in an upcoming post of mine, then…
Oooooooh! HP-Jess-smartypants-sugar-post! It’s like all my favourite things coming together at once! I absolutely am a fan. In fact, have just said yes to joining in the midnight screening eventage for the next film
I definitely don’t dislike muesli, but as you say, granola’s the only thing for snacking
Funnily enough, I bought the new Crunchola (berry and vanilla, I think?) a few weeks ago because it reminded me of being in high school. But still, not enough fatty goodness in that one 
I don’t eat oats or granolas for breakfast… maybe I should and find out what all the fuss is about ;p
I don’t really eat them for breakfast either… just throughout the entire rest of the day
You should definitely give granola a go. If you like peanut butter, try this one, otherwise I’ve got an awesome recipe coming up next week!
I want I want I want I want I want I want I want I want I want I want I want I want I want!
It’s funny cos when my boyfriend’s sister (Melbourne born and bred) moved to North Carolina a few years back, she was complaining about the lack of good bircher muesli over there! I ought to ask her about granola and what she thinks of it
Ah, bircher muesli is also magnificent, but it’s a completely different kettle of fish! That’s for when you want healthy-cold-gloopiness, not crunchy-awesome-snackage
And oh, I miss that area of the States…
In the last few weeks we have had granola in the house non-stop, because it is actually a great way to use up okara. But peanut butter granola! There’s a thought! Want!!
Okara granola? That’s so many kinds of mind-boggling awesome that I can’t even contemplate it. Want!!
Yes! Yum yum yum! PB + honey + (for me) a dab of cinnamon, and I am one happy lady. Maybe I don’t appreciate granola enough because, well, it’s so omnipresent here. When you visit, maybe we should have a granolathon…we could buy up little bags of all the bulk granolas at Whole Foods (and perhaps some large shelf packages too), taste-test them all, pick our favorites, and them come up with unfathomably delicious homemade versions of each. What do ya say? :]
You know what I’m going to say. And it’s entirely full of smiles and excitement and grumbling tummies and happiness and rainbows and unicorns.
oh LOVELy! I agree with you. I make my own too!
And it always tastes so much better homemade, right?
I need to make this …STAT!!! Yummo!
It really is! And super easy to make, too
Do you reckon it would work with Cashew Butter for those of us who can’t eat peanuts? Wait, what am I saying, I don’t do cereal so why would I make this?
Yes it definitely would! I was going to say that I ate this more as a snack than cereal, but then I remembered you’re no more of a snacker than you are a cereal-eater!
Well, have to agree with you on reasons 1, 2 3 & 4 although I’m not so much a fan of 5, but hey….. 4 outa 5 aint bad.., we still got lots to chat about right
Me no like granola…..
Wow. I don’t believe I’ve ever come across anyone who doesn’t like granola! It takes all kinds to make the world, right?
So, are you going to build your own theme park now? Please say you are. You could sell granola there. It could be a granola theme park! You could ride giant oak flakes through a sea of yoghurt! Slide down a giant spoon into a pool of peanut butter!
Walk through a waterfall of honey and then be licked clean by Winnie-the-Poohs! Get a lovely non-cancerous tan in the obstacle-course oven! Bounce around in a plump apricot jumping castle!
Right! I’m linking this to my boyfriend! Even though he is an American living in MY country his superiority complex when it comes to all things cereal continue to astound me. I make him toasted muesli, coconut muesli, gluten free muesli, muesli bars, is-this-bird-seed-muesli…and the response?! “You should see the cereal aisles in an American supermarket!”
And don’t even get me started on the Vegemite/Beetroot debate (not together although I’m not above trying it)…
Right! Off to the kitchen straight after I teach my gym class to make this delicious-as-goodness-morning-energiser! (Yes, my life is an oxymoron, I struggle with it everyday!) Thanks Hannah!
To be fair to your boyfriend, the cereal aisles at American grocery stores *are* a heady combination of revolting and amazing… but to be fair to you, those mueslis sound innovative and exciting
I’d definitely recommend 60-80ml of honey if you’re making this for an American, though!
And I’d totally eat a vegemite and beetroot sandwich. Thanks for stopping by!
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Once you start eating homemade granola, you really can’t go back. Just a warning, although I guess it’s too late now.
It’s so true! Two weeks ago, I spent fifteen minutes longingly picking up and putting back granolas in the cereal aisle of the supermarket. Today, I was in the same aisle, picked one up, and went “Meh. I can do so much better”.
I totally agree! I got addicted to granola the last time I went to the States, needless to say, I had it every.single.morning!
Oh, and secretly for lunch and supper too, when no one was watching!
Love your blog btw!
I personally believe that granola tastes best at non-breakfast times of the day. It’s the illicitness that makes it so much tastier
And thank you! That means a lot 
hahaha, endless laughs in this post. Love the “Dear Myself: I wish I didn’t even know those names”
Granola is so amazing. Love this recipe, thanks for the link. Have never made a peanut butter granola before. Must give this a go. I imagine it would make it deliciously clumpy.
Heidi xo
Definitely give this a try! Two people (other than me) have made it so far (that I know of) and each has given rave reviews. Definitely go for the 60-80ml of honey, though
Clumpy FTW, right?
Granola! I haven’t made granola in ages. When are you coming to make a big batch for me?
soonsoonsoonsoonsoonsoonsoon. What flavours do you want?
There are different FLAVOURS?! :p
Well, I mean, I can just do this exact peanut butter kind, or you could go wild with ideas. For instance, would you like a pureed-squid and dried cherry with coconuts and spinach granola? I’m your girl.