Have you ever wanted to make homemade granola/cereal before?? Well today is your lucky day now that you have this easy high protein granola clusters recipe in your hands!
Deliciously satisfying cinnamon-infused, nutty coconut clusters with maple syrup and crunchy roasted chickpeas!
The best part about this crunchy homemade cereal recipe is that it’s packed with plant protein, even without protein powder! If you need a quick and healthy vegan breakfast, snack or dessert that is naturally grain-free, gluten free and oil free, then this recipe will be your lifesaver.
What does this high protein granola taste like?
- Crunchy
- Sweet & salty
- Nutty
- Crispy
- Maple-infused
- Satisfying
FAQ About Homemade Granola
In general, it is going to be significantly more affordable to make your own granola at home than if you were to buy it at the store. Not only that, but you’re also able to control exactly what goes into a homemade granola. You can adjust the ingredients to taste and avoid the added sugar, oil, preservatives and nasties that are sometimes found in store-bought granola/cereal.
Higher temperatures can cause ingredients like the nuts, seeds, and coconut to burn before the batch has a chance to properly dry out and crisp up. So make sure your oven is at a low temperature and keep an eye on your mixture.
This recipe uses maple syrup as a sticky coating to hold the granola clusters together. You can also add a spoonful of nut/peanut butter to the mixture to help form even bigger clusters (because who doesn’t love chunky granola!)
If your oven temperature is too high the granola will burn easily so make sure you reduce it to the lower heat before baking. Check your granola regularly and give it a gentle toss half way through baking to help it brown evenly without burning on the edges.
Keep in mind that the granola will harden more as it cools down. Allow it to cool completely before storing in an airtight container or jar to prevent condensation from making the granola soggy. If your granola is no longer fresh or crunchy enough you can return it to the oven at a low heat and bake for a few extra minutes to crispen it up.
Homemade granola will last for several weeks stored in an airtight container or jar at room temperature.
Tips for Crunchy Roasted Chickpeas
Why are my roasted chickpeas not crunchy?
- The key to making roasted chickpeas crunchy (without using oil) is baking them at a very hot oven temperature (around 200C / 390F fan-forced).
- If your chickpeas aren’t dried thoroughly before baking, then they might not achieve that optimum level of crunch.
- Removing the skins off the chickpeas before baking can also help make your roasted chickpeas extra crispy!
- Make sure your chickpeas are spread out across the tray not touching one another so they have plenty of surface area to bake properly.
- Roasted chickpeas are best eaten fresh from the oven. If storing leftovers allow them to cool completely before placing in an airtight container.
Do chickpeas need to be cooked before roasting?
Most recipes call for canned chickpeas for convenience sake, therefore the chickpeas have already gone through the cooking process. However, you can roast un-cooked chickpeas that have only been soaked prior, which may result in an even crunchier texture!
Download my free recipe ebook below to learn how to make the crispiest roasted chickpeas (without any oil!)
+ I’ll send you a full day of simple plant-based recipes!
How To Make Roasted Chickpea Granola
Here are the 3 simple steps on how to make your own crunchy high protein cereal with oil-free roasted chickpeas at home!
- Bake chickpeas
Rinse & dry chickpeas thoroughly. Spread them out on a lined baking tray and bake for about 20 minutes until they are hard and crispy.
- Combine
Add all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl then pour over the maple syrup and mix until everything is evenly coated.
- Bake
Spread granola onto a lined baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown and deliciously crunchy.
5 Tasty Ways to Enjoy Protein Granola
- Add it onto a smoothie bowl for a crunchy topping!
- Serve on a non-dairy yoghurt bowl or with your favourite plant milk
- Add some crunch on top of your homemade ice cream / nicecream!
- Turn it into granola bars or cookies
- Eat it by the handful as a quick grab & go snack!
If you’re a fan of granola then also be sure to check out this Salted Chocolate Granola!
Here are some more healthy sweet treats to enjoy…
- TikTok Viral Recipe! – Chocolate Orange Baked Oats (Vegan)
- Vegan Strawberry Shortcake Sliders (Gluten-free, Oil free)
- Protein Granola Cereal Clusters (Vegan, Gluten Free, Grain-Free)
- Vegan Easter Dessert Recipes 2025 (Gluten free)
- Healthy Vegan Lemon bars (Easy, Gluten Free)
- No-Bake Carrot Cake Energy Balls (Vegan, No Dates)
Vegan Protein Granola Cereal Clusters (Gluten Free, Grain Free)
INGREDIENTS
- 1 can (1 1/2 cup cooked) chickpeas
- 1 cup coconut flakes
- 1 cup mixed nuts
- 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200C (fan-forced) and line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Drain and rinse chickpeas. Place them onto a clean tea towel and dry thoroughly. Spread chickpeas across the lined tray and bake for 20minutes or until hard and crunchy. Reduce oven to 180deg C.
- Add granola ingredients into a large bowl and mix until well combined. Spread granola out onto the baking tray in a single uniform layer (ensure there are minimal gaps to acheive the biggest, chunkiest clusters!)
- Bake for 10-15 minutes or until coconut is golden brown (be careful not to burn.) Allow to cool completely before breaking up into clusters and storing in an airtight container.
Notes
Substitutions
PUMPKIN SEEDS: Can be swapped for any other nut/seed you prefer such as sunflower seeds or slivered almonds MAPLE SYRUP: Substitute for any natural liquid sweetener of your choice such as rice malt syrup, agave nectar or date syrup COCONUT FLAKES: Can be substituted with another ingredient such as shredded coconut, quinoa flakes, rolled oats.
Made any of these recipes?
Tag @foodieegee on Instagram and hashtag it #foodieegee so we can share all the deliciousness!
I can’t wait to try this!! I love that there are chickpeas in this recipe, they are my absolute favorite. It’s also a great way to add a ton of protein.
I like that you added maple syrup to this recipe. These look very tasty! I will certainly give it a try.
These little protein granola cereal clusters look so yummy! Beautiful photos, too! Thanks for sharing!
this looks great
Such a lovely easy to make recipe. Thank you so much for sharing. Sounds delicious 💗
This sounds like a great snack! I can’t wait to try it. Thank you for sharing.
I’m saving your post for later this week. More than one year ago, I tasted a similar recipe in Kenya and absolutely wanted to make it at home. You’re my sign to finally do it! 🙂
I’m so glad I found this, I was looking for the perfect salad topping!
this is making me hungry