I’m not sure I would have tried "cookie granola" had there not been half a roll of peanut butter cookie dough in the refrigerator, but I needed to get rid of it and didn't feel like cookies. Granola, on the other hand, seemed like a great idea, and using refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough to make it was pure genius. Or at least if it worked out. My concern was that it would taste like a bunch of mashed up peanut butter cookies.
When I pulled it out of the oven, I was still skeptical. It looked soft, doughy and kind of pale. But after a thorough 30 minute cooling off period, the granola was crisp and crunchy. It's flavor was like a peanut butter & oatmeal cookie, but the texture reminded me of those little puffy peanut butter granola things Nature Valley used to make – I can’t remember what they were called, but they came in little packets and I used to put them in my lunchbox. At any rate, this granola is worth buying a whole new roll of peanut butter dough and making again. In fact, I think I'm going to make a bunch and bag it up for a bake sale next weekend.
The original recipe is here, but I made considerable changes and plan on doing it again my way which means adding the fruit after the baking period, using cashews and macadamia nuts, and swapping out the raisins for dried cherries, dried mango and cranberry. For the candies, I used Hershey's candy coated chocolates.
Recipe
Peanut Butter Cookie Granola
Ingredients
- 1 roll 16.5 oz Pillsbury® refrigerated peanut butter cookies, at room temperature
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 ½ cups oats
- 1 cup flaked coconut
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 1 cup mixed cashews and macadamia nuts
- ⅓ cup sweetened dried cranberries or dried cherries
- ½ cup candy coated chocolates
- ½ cup peanut butter chips or Reese’s Pieces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. rub two large rimmed baking sheets lightly with oil or line with non-stick foil.
- In large bowl, mix cookie dough and cinnamon. Add oats, coconut and cinnamon; knead into dough until well blended. Add the nuts. Crumble mixture evenly on cookie sheets.
- Bake both cookie sheets at the same time 17 to 22 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes and rotating cookie sheets halfway through baking, until light golden brown. Cool completely on cookie sheets, about 30 minutes. Break granola into smaller pieces if necessary (I didn't) and toss it with the dried fruit and candy.
jackie says
I made this today with a few changes. I used scratch made p.b cookies and after cooling for 5 minutes I sprinkled it with butterscotch chips. Everything else stayed the same. Was so so so yummy.
Anna says
Anna, thanks for the review! I'm actually packaging it up right now for a bake sale. I haven't attempted making it with homemade cookie dough, but I am curious to see if it would work.
Anna says
I made this for my husband to take on a camping trip this weekend. He loves it! I doubt any will make it back from the trip.
melissa says
This looks amazing, and addicting.... It has all the elements of my personal crack: peanut butter cookies, chocolate candy, nuts, dried fruit! I think I have to wait to make this when there are a whole bunch of people to share it with so I don't eat the whole batch!
Anna says
Thanks Val! You've solved the mystery.
Valerie says
another fan of those yummy granola puff snacks here. they were Light & Crunchies...
check out this old commercial.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6B-eV3FW5c
Anna says
Thanks Adam!
Hi Rod, I used it in a quick cookie recipe I didn't post. I have a few shortcut cookie recipes where the dough really comes in handy.
Rodzilla says
This soudns awesome as I'm a sucker for ready bake cookies and granola- but I'm curious what you had pillsbury dough left over from, I don't think I've seen you use pre-made dough before.
Adam says
@Anna -- You added cashews and M&Ms my original statement stands :).
Anna says
CL, definitely try it with the gingerbread dough!!! I am really curious to hear how that would work. I can't see why it wouldn't. Let me know how it goes. Make it tomorrow ASAP 😉
I'm also wondering how it would work with just a plain scratch peanut butter dough.
C L says
I am most definitely making this! Would it work with gingerbread cookie dough too? I have a roll of it in the freezer from last year. 🙂
Erin says
OOO That is an awesome snack! Must make!
Katrina says
I can totally picture those little crunchy balls, almost had the name, but can't remember it. Fun and yummy idea for sure here!
Anna says
So what were those granola things called???
Adam, I wasn't the one who made this up. I wish it was my idea, but it wasn't.
heartofglass21 says
I remember those little lunch pouches! With Halloween coming around, this would be a great way to use the Reece's Pieces up from Trick-or-Treat bags--I can also see how some candy corn would work for a nice 'fall mix.'
Adam says
Wow.
That's all I have to say about that. Anna you're some type of genius :).
I do have one question though: What's wrong with a bunch of mashed up peanut butter cookies :)?
Lisa Ernst says
How fun -- this would be my idea of a great snack or dessert for road trips. Of course the addition of chocolate takes it to the next level with the peanut butter cookies!