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.
Pin This Recipe
Enjoy AverieCooks.com Without Ads! 🆕
Go Ad Free
Peanut Butter and Jelly Granola (Whole Foods Copycat)
Ingredients
- heaping 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter, I used conventional honey-roasted peanut butter
- ¾ 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
- ¾ cup raisins
- ¾ cup dried cranberries
- ½ 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
- ½ 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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
©averiecooks.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Related Recipes
Skinny 100-Calorie Chocolate Peanut Butter Snack Mix (vegan, GF, no butter/oil) – 5 minutes to make, satisfying, and won’t derail your diet!
Big Clusters Maple Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Granola (vegan, GF) – Easy homemade granola for a fraction of the cost of storebought! Learn the secrets to creating those highly coveted big clusters!
Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Granola (vegan, GF) – Crunchy, easy, and packed with rich spices!
Cinnamon Sugar Candied Nuts Trail Mix – Candied nuts like you get at the mall with trail mix add-ins. This stuff is dangerously good!
No-Bake Samoas Cookie Granola Bars (vegan, GF) – Granola bars that taste like Girl Scout Cookies
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars (No-Bake, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free) – Like Quaker Chewy Bars, but so much better because they’re homemade. Fast, easy, inexpensive and my favorite homemade granola bars
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Granola Bars (no-bake, vegan, GF) – Granola bars that taste like peanut butter cookies with hearty oats!
Sunflower Seed Butter Granola Bars with Chocolate Drizzle (no-bake, vegan, GF) – Soft, chewy, easy, and great for anyone with peanut allergies or peanut-free schools!
Snickerdoodle Cookie Granola Bars (no-bake, vegan, GF) – Granola bars that taste like snickerdoodle cookies!
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!
http://www.globalspicedblog.tumblr.com
There’s a Whole Foods located 5 minutes from my home – it’s definitely impossible to stay away, haha.
Love this granola variety!