This Granola Recipe with Butter is the perfect snack to make using leftover Halloween candy! Throw in any type of candy corn, candy or candy bars you have on hand to create a crunchy, irresistible snack! Fun to have for an afternoon snack, to send in the kids lunches or munch on after the kids go to bed. Granola isn’t just for breakfast!
Original post: November 2017 | Updated: October 2019
Why This Recipe Works
Fall is over and winter has begun and most importantly it is a day for feasting on Halloween candy leftovers. If you have a sweet tooth like I do, you’ll enjoy this day.
I love eating candy, of course, but I also love re-purposing candy, just like I did with these Leftover Candy Refrigerator Bars and these Peanut Butter Blondies.
A few nights ago I dreamed about granola. I woke up and had a dire need to make a few batches of it. So what did I do? I made a few batches of granola, one of which was inspired by all the loads of candy my boys got trick or treating.
If you have leftover Halloween candy taunting you today, make this! It is EASY and so irresistibly delicious. Feel free to add whatever type of candy you have hanging out in your bowl. For the batch in the photos, I used 100 Grand Bars and M&M’s and oooohhhh my goodness it was good.
But mini chocolate bars, chocolate candies in general, peanut butter cups, those fun size treats, all perfect for this recipe. My family and I love this recipe and hope you do, too!
Recipe Ingredients
Old-fashioned oats – Definitely stick with old fashioned oats for the best result (no quick oats!). If quick oats are all you have, this will more likely have a consistency of oatmeal than a nice crisp chewy texture.
Salted peanuts – Roasted salted peanuts would add the best flavor to this recipe.
Brown sugar – Using brown sugar helps add moisture and a nice chewiness. Along with oats, white and brown sugar work magic.
Assorted candy – Chopped up any leftover candy you have. Candy bars of any sort, M&M’s, Reese’s, 100 Grand Bars, Milky Way, Snickers.. Have fun trying out new combinations!
How To Make A Batch of Granola Recipe with Butter and All Your Leftover Candy
Step 1
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a large rimmed baking sheet or sheet pan with parchment paper and coat with cooking spray.
Step 2
Combine the following ingredients in a large bowl with a wooden spoon:
- 4 cups old fashioned oats
- 1 cup salted peanuts
- 1/2 cup salted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 2 cups assorted candy (chopped up candy bars of any sort, M&M’s, etc)
- 1 teaspoon salt
Mix well.
Step 3
Pour contents evenly onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, stirring twice throughout baking process to ensure granola does not burn.
Remove from the oven and let granola cool completely to room temperature. Store in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
Recipe Notes
- Nut/seed options: pecans, slivered almonds, pine nuts, walnuts, peanuts, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds
- Fat options: olive oil, butter, vegetable oil, canola oil, sesame oil, peanut oil, coconut oil
- Sweetener options: white or brown sugar, agave nectar, honey, maple syrup
- Flavoring options: vanilla or almond extract (or any extract!), cinnamon, cayenne pepper, ginger, cardamom
- Extra options: dried fruit of any kind (apples, blueberries, cranberries, raisins, cherries, mangoes, apricots), wheat germ, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, molasses, peanut butter, cocoa powder or Nutella.
How To Enjoy Granola Recipe With Butter
- Enjoy it by the handful, dry and easy to eat as a snack or on the go
- Toss it over a bowl of vanilla greek yogurt
- Sprinkle your granola over a bowl of ice cream
- Make apple nachos with this sprinkled on top
- Put a bowl out at a party
- Add 1/2-1 cup of peanut or almond butter and press them into a pan to make granola bars
What Is In Granola
Granola is a popular breakfast or snack food consisting of a variety of ingredients that are combined such as rolled oats, nuts, honey or other sweeteners such as brown sugar, and sometimes puffed rice. It is usually baked until it is toasty golden brown.
The mixture is stirred to maintain a loose consistency while it’s baked. What I love about granola is that you can mix and match it with what you love.
FAQ About Granola
Granola is made by mixing dried oats and mixing in something to hold it together like honey or maple syrup and then the extras you enjoy such as nuts, dried fruit.
While it’s touted as a breakfast item, granola is ingredients mixed with additional oils and sugars and fruit to make it super delicious but not so healthy.
Granola can be a course of vitamins and iron, folate and zinc depending on what oils and oats you make it from. Reducing sugars and adding in nuts or dried fruit can help them be a filling snack and not just extra calories.
Oatmeal tends to be a slightly healthier option for breakfast or snack because it doesn’t usually add in dried fruit and nuts on top of any sweetners.
Granola can be used for so many things! Mix it with yogurt and fruit to create a delicious breakfast or eat solo as a snack. Sprinkle it over fruit crisps or puddings! Or mix it up with candy and raisins to create a trail mix.
Kid-Friendly and Adult Snacks
- Stove Top Popcorn – Down with microwave popcorn and all of the unknown ingredients that come along with it. Stovetop popcorn is SO easy to make (easier than you think!), with no MSG and totally packed with delicious flavor.
- Instant Pot Chocolate Pudding – Make creamy, fudgy chocolate pudding effortlessly and PERFECTLY in your Instant Pot! This rich, decadent treat will bring you back to childhood. Skip the box mix!
- Raspberry Honey Yogurt – Fresh raspberries, honey and Greek yogurt join forces to create the most delicious, fruity and filling snack! Eat immediately or freeze for a cold treat.
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Granola Recipe with Butter and Leftover Candy
Ingredients
- 4 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup salted peanuts
- 1/2 cup salted butter melted
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 2 cups assorted candy (chopped up candy bars of any sort, M&M’s, etc)
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil and coat with cooking spray. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
- Pour contents evenly onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, stirring twice throughout baking process to ensure granola does not burn.
- Remove from the oven and let cool. Store in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Nut/seed options: pecans, almonds, pine nuts, walnuts, peanuts, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds.
- Fat options: olive oil, butter, vegetable oil, canola oil, sesame oil, peanut oil, coconut oil.
- Sweetener options: white or brown sugar, agave nectar, honey, maple syrup.
Flavoring options: vanilla or almond extract (or any extract!), cinnamon, cayenne pepper, ginger, cardamom. - Extra options: dried fruit of any kind (apples, blueberries, cranberries, raisins, cherries, mangoes, apricots), wheat germ, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, molasses, peanut butter, cocoa powder, Nutella.
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