Say goodbye to store-bought options and savor a homemade and delicious start to your morning with this oat bran breakfast cereal that’s bound to become a household favorite. Start your day with a delicious and wholesome breakfast by crafting your own homemade version of Cracklin’ Oat Bran cereal. This oven-baked cereal combines the natural flavor of oat bran with a touch of cinnamon, creating a great-tasting treat that the whole family will love.
Kellogg’s Cracklin’ Oat Bran is my favorite cereal. Made with whole-grain oats, a touch of warm cinnamon, and a dusting of nutmeg, it’s good stuff! I am not the only one – in searching the internet for recipes, I found the word “crack” used a few times to describe how addicting it is. I am sharing with you my Cracklin’ Oat Bran Cereal Clone recipe so that you can make a healthier version in your own kitchen.
You can make a healthier version of Cracklin’ Oat Bran Cereal in your own kitchen. This Cracklin’ Oat Bran Clone recipe is a delicious take on the popular high-fiber, whole-grain breakfast cereal and is made with oats, flakes of coconut, flax, and spices. Each serving has 5 grams of dietary fiber.
Why You’ll Love This Oven-Baked Oat Cereal
- The whole grain breakfast cereal that is sold on the shelves of grocery stores has more ingredients than the homemade version. It also contains wheat bran, wheat starch, and malt flavoring – therefore prohibiting it from being gluten-free. The homemade copycat Cracklin’ Oat Bran has none of those nor palm, palm kernel and/or soybean oil with TBHQ, corn syrup, or soy lecithin.
- It has no added folic acid, making it a great breakfast option for those who cannot tolerate the synthetic form of folate.
- There are no eggs or dairy products in this, so if you must sample a little before it goes in the oven it should be okay.
- You can use a food processor to make this irresistible cereal. It helps to blend the ingredients much better than a mixer or blender would.
- It’s versatile. You can cut it into bite-sized cereal pieces or shape it into granola bars.
Ingredients
To make this tasty breakfast cereal, you need the following ingredients:
- 1½ cups oats
- 1 cup oat bran
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup sweetened coconut flakes
- ½ cup ground flax seeds
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- pinch of nutmeg
- ⅓ cup coconut oil, in a liquid state
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
How To Make Cracklin’ Oat Bran
Start by preheating your oven to 325 degrees.
Add all of the dry ingredients to the well of a large food processor and pulse it 5-6 times. Next, add the remaining ingredients and process on high until the mixture is moist.
Spread the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. A nice, somewhat thin layer is ideal so that it can “dry” out when it bakes. That’s what makes it “crackle.”
Baking Time
Place in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 25 minutes.
Once the cereal is done, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool. Break the granola into pieces and store in an airtight container.
Alternatively, after you remove the cereal from the oven and while it is still warm, gently cut (score) it into small rectangles but don’t separate it.
If you want to try to replicate the hole in the middle, insert a chopstick point into the middle of each piece and lightly move it around. The cereal will be soft and pliable while it is still hot. Allow it to cool and harden, then break it into pieces.
How To Store Homemade Cereal
Storing homemade cereal is a breeze and ensures your delicious creation stays fresh for extended enjoyment. After preparing your batch, allow it to cool completely to prevent moisture buildup. Then, transfer the cereal into an airtight container, ensuring it’s sealed tightly to prevent moisture from sneaking in. Store this container in a cool, dry place, such as a pantry or kitchen cupboard.
📖 Recipe
Cracklin’ Oat Bran Cereal Clone (Gluten-Free Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1½ cups oats
- 1 cup oat bran
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup sweetened coconut
- ½ cup ground flax seeds
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- pinch of nutmeg
- ⅓ cup coconut oil in liquid state
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Add all of the dry ingredients to the well of a large food processor and pulse 5-6 times.
- Add remaining ingredients and process on high until mixture is moist.
- Spread mixture onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for approximately 25 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool. Break granola into pieces and store in an airtight container.
Video
Nutrition
The homemade version won’t have those perfectly shaped in the cute little “O’s” like Kellogg’s. At least we know exactly what is in our cereal and just how fresh it is.
If you find yourself always in a hurry in the mornings, consider cutting the cereal into bars instead. Then you will have a delicious grab-and-go breakfast treat ready to go when you are.
Margaret says
could I make this sugar free with sweet red nerve and sugarfree syrup. ?
Lynda says
I don’t know.
annette says
This recipe was very tasty. I substituted some molasses and honey for the maple syrup. Also, I used vegetable oil for the coconut oil and wheat bran for the oat bran, since these were all ready in my pantry. It turned out wonderful all the same.
happy girl says
I’m very happy with this recipe. I look forward to using this possibly as a base for variations. Thank you, Lynda!
happy girl says
It’s in the oven now. I was eating it before I baked it and it was so oat-y and delicious; I had to force myself to stop eating it.
I used coconut sugar and a little corn syrup. I was out of molasses. I also added in coconut flour, pecan flour and coconut butter.
I didn’t have coconut oil so I opted instead for olive oil and avocado oil.
Next time I might just go for all avocado oil since the flavor is more neutral.
I meant to add more cinnamon, but next time I won’t forget.
Thank you for the recipe. Genius!
Lynda says
Please come back and tell me how your baked version tastes. It sounds delicious!
Ezra says
Absolutely phenomenal recipe – and vegan friendly! Made these last week, and they are probably one of the best things I’ve ever made and tasted! Ate the whole batch, haha. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, will definitely be making them again! Cheers!
Lynda says
💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
Juls~ says
Great recipe! The gluten and non-gluten team loved it. I didn’t have all the ingredients-made it without the molasses so I added a bit more grade B maple syrup. I did use steel cut oats! I just grounded it to a powder because I didn’t have oat bran, I go with what I’ve got.
Oh, I added ground pecans to the mix because…I like pecans! The grandkids call it Scooby Snacks because…it looks like dog food and tastes “like a hug”. What more could you ask of a treat?
We are going to add cocoa nibs the next time we make it. Thanks for posting~
Lynda says
Thank YOU for your comment. 💕 It made my day. I am glad that both the gluten and non-gluten team loved it! Please come back and tell me how the versino with cocoa nibs turns out. 😀
Erin says
Thank you for sharing this recipe. Cracklin oat Bran was my favorite cereal growing up, but I’ve been gluten free for several years and have just pined for it in passing at the grocery store. I made this recipe just as described using my vitamix and it came out perfectly. Everyone loved it, even those self-professed gluten loving junk food members of the family! This will be our go-to for cereal, granola bites and granola bars for years to come. A million thanks!
Lynda says
Thank you for coming back and leaving a kind remark. It made my day. 💕
Cece says
This recipe is delicious! AND way better than the brand itself.
Used 1/2 as much maple just because I prefer less sweet and the cereal is almost too sweet.
Will make again and next time halve the brown sugar rather than the maple for better forming.
Lynda says
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I am glad you enjoyed the recipe. Please let me know it turns out with the changes that you mentioned.
Kelsey says
This may seem sill, but what kind of oats do you use? Rolled oats?
Lynda says
Not silly at all. I use either quick or old fashioned – just depends on what I have in my pantry. Just don’t use steel cut oats.
Ashley says
Hi! I made this this morning because I had a craving for my favorite cereal and wanted to make my own healthier version. While the middle mass of the granola turned out awesome (delish, crispy and crunchy, thank you), the outside edges all burned pretty badly. Have you ever experienced this? Guessing I should either bake at 5 degrees lower, or 5 min less…
Lynda says
Sorry to hear about the edges. I use a baking stone (pan) and it cooks evenly. I am guessing that if your sheet pan was made of metal, that could have been the reason.
One other option might be to create a small shield for the edges to protect them from burning. (Think of how people do that when baking pie crusts.)
Nancy Kenaston says
I just made something like this, only the main ingredients were almond flour & coconut flour. I thought, “Hmmm, that tastes like Cracklin Oat Bran!” So I came online looking for a MYO recipe & found yours. I’ll experiment with a hybrid of yours & the almond/coconut flour version (as I’m gluten free). Thanks for sharing!
Kae says
@Nancy Kenaston, I’m making this but also seeking a similar recipe with fewer carbs. Do you recall the other recipe’s name.
Nancy says
Sorry, didn’t see your comment till now. It was titled “HOMEMADE KETO LOW CARB CEREAL” by From: https://kpdq.com/recipes/cinnamon-homemade-keto-low-carb-cereal
Holly says
This is a wonderful recipes. Similar recipes call for way more ingredients. It is delicious
Lynda says
<3
Jenny says
This recipe is seriously addicting! It’s a staple in our house now. I don’t eat flax, so I use ground hemp seeds. (I did try ground chia seeds once but that turned out really gross.) Anyway, thank you for this wonderful recipe that makes me so happy! 😁
Lynda says
Your comment makes my heart happy! Thanks for stopping by to let me know that you enjoy the recipe.
Arthur says
To much sugar, and Carbs sorry but thanks.
Jenny says
Any ideas on how to omit the flax seed?
Lynda says
Being that the flax seeds are there for added nutrition and not for any other purpose, you should be able to omit them.
Nate says
This is brilliant and exactly what I was looking for.
I used to enjoy this cereal as a kid before the recipe change in 1989. Due to pressure from “public health advocates,” Kellogg removed the coconut oil. Saturated fat was considered evil at the time, and they replaced it with far worse soybean and cottonseed oils.
I occasionally wonder why a healthier alternative isn’t offered today to capitalize on the popularity of trends like organic foods and coconut oil.
Didi says
@Nate,
Coconut oil is as unhealthy as always. It’s popular because of marketing that cast it against the (even worse, but now mostly gone) trans fat. America loves unhealthy food backed by clever spin, such as coconut…and bacon.
Janice says
I finally made this recipe today. It turned out very good. I did make a couple of changes: I substituted 1 cup of almond flour for the cup of oat bran; substituted 1/2 cup coconut sugar for the 1/2 cup brown sugar; omitted the nutmeg. Also, I mixed the dry ingredients in a large bowl until well blended, then mixed all the liquid ingredients together, made a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and poured it in, mixing well with a wooden spoon. I used an 11″x 15″ stoneware bar pan lined with parchment paper, pressed it out flat and baked it at 325*for 25 minutes as directed. When it cooled, the edges were crispy and the middle was somewhat soft. So you may need to bake it longer if you want it to be crispy all the way through. My daughter and I think this is better than the Cracklin’ Oat Bran. We crumbled half of it to use like cereal and cut the other half into bars. An excellent recipe and not hard to make variations. Raisins would be a nice addition. Thank you for sharing this!
Lynda says
Thank you for sharing your version – I am so glad you enjoyed it!
Marla Bear says
My family and me LOVE Cracklin’ Oat Bran but those skinny expensive boxes of cereal never last long enough! Pinterest came to the rescue again. I compared several copycat recipes and decided this one looked like the one to try. I(we) we’re not disappointed! It’s very close to the right flavor. My kids all agreed! As some others commented, I’d cut back the brown sugar slightly next time. I also baked it long and slow like I do my other granola recipes rather than the way the recipe instructed here. 250 degrees for 1 1/2 hours without stirring. Then stir and crumble it to bite sized chunks as soon as it’s out of the oven. Gets crispy, crunchy as it cools. Turned out perfectly!
Lynda says
Thanks for sharing your tips!
Tom says
This recipe is fantastic! I made it last night. Everyone in the family loved it. Super tasty. Next time I’m going to cut the sugar dramatically. It seems with the brown sugar and syrup it’s a similar amount of sugar to the real COB, or more :(. Still, this is yummy and I don’t want to knock what you’ve done here. It’s awesome, and I think will be a little healthier with a reduction of the sugar.
Lynda says
Please come back and let me know how it works with the reduction in sugar. I would love to scale back on it, too. Thanks!
Karen says
I love this recipe! I use about 1/4 cup brown sugar and omit the baking soda and it works fine!
Lynda says
So glad to hear that!
Annie says
This looks like a fantastic way to get more fiber! Bran is SOOOO good for your gut! Thank you for the recipe!
Allison says
Oh yum! I remember eating this as a kid – I had no clue you could make it at home!
Jamie says
That sounds amazing! I love anything that doesn’t have soy!! 🙂 Definitely going to look for it, next time I go shopping.
Nancy says
DELICIOUS! Thank you for your GF version of Cracklin Oat Bran. A member of my family has Celiac and trying to make GF substitutes for his favorite things has been frustrating at times. This is very close, if not better in taste, and the whole family LOVES it. Mostly we eat it in the shape of small granola bars for snacks but its great crumbled up in milk too. I don’t have a ‘food processor’ but I used my Ninja Master Prep large pitcher to process it in and it worked great. Thank you, thank you thank you for posting your recipe!
Lynda says
I am so glad you like it. More often than not, I often roll it out into one large rectangle, bake it, and then slice it into bars, too!
Alex says
I cannot TELL you how many times I’ve made your recipe the last 2-3 years. I always loved the store bought version but hated the ingredients! This is SO much better in taste and quality! I make it for my entire family, and the fact that it is gluten free and dairy free allows everyone to enjoy it! So good at any time of day! Thank you so much for sharing! I usually quadruple the recipe and it still doesn’t last! I make it so often that I have it memorized. Thank you!!
Lynda says
Wow! It makes my heart so happy to hear that. <3
carissa says
I’m recently GF bc I was getting rashes from gluten products suddenly, and I’m a big cereal eater, but also like to eat cleanly and from scratch as much as possible. I found this recipe and made it (and ate some in raw milk) and it’s a home run!!! I also used to love Cracklin’ Oat Bran as a child, but this is way better! Thank you!! Delicious:)
Lynda says
You’re welcome. Thank YOU so much for taking the time to leave a message – you made my day. I am glad that you like the recipe. 🙂
lena says
cracklin oat bran was my all time favorite cereal. this recipe is soo good. on its own dry it doesnt taste like cracklin oat bran much to me but with milk it is very very close and satisfies my craving for it. it is so addictive its hard not to have two giant bowls back to back!
Lynda says
Thank you for taking the time to comment. It is quite delicious, isn’t it?
Andrea says
I stumbled upon this recipe and I had everything in my pantry so I made it. It’s REALLY good! It’s high in fiber and filling. I divided it into 12 servings so I could be “reasonable” about eating it! I sprayed the back of a silicone spatula with coconut oil spray which helped me spread it out. I baked mine on silicone mats and it worked fine. Thanks!
Laura says
Can’t wait to try this recipe. I plan to make it with my four year old as Reindeer feed. Just add a couple shakes of magic (sparkling cake topping flakes) and we’re all set. And tasty as granola bars for her as well. Thanks for sharing.
Lynda says
How sweet! I love what you are going to do. I hope that the holidays are magical for both of you!
Maggie says
i am SO happy i found this recipe! cracklin was my favorite cereal! cannot wait to dive in, it’s baking now and it smells PHENOMENAL!
Lynda says
I love the smell of it, too! I have also gotten to the point where I bake it as one long flat sheet and then cut it into bars and eat them like granola bars.
Carla says
Hi Lynda – For some reason I couldn’t locate the field to leave a comment. So, here I am just having eaten my version of your recipe, but as a hot cereal. I was curious to see if others have been doing the same as I didn’t use a recipe . . . just instinct after tiring of oatmeal.
Interestingly, my ingredients are the same, with a couple caveats: Oat Bran, dried/unsweetened coconut, flax meal, cinnamon and chopped walnuts or pecans (sometimes toasted!). I use water due to milk sensitivity. Sometimes I add a teaspoon of honey . .other times I top my bowl with fresh berries or banana. I think we all should decrease the amount of sugar in our diets a bit and get our taste buds used to the natural sweetness of things like Oats. It’s there. So, I’d suggest trying your recipe with simply dried, flakes of coconut for starters . . . then decrease or eliminate the brown sugar. If you add some ground nuts (almost like a flour . . . maybe try almond meal), you’ll make your snack a complete protein and probably find eating less of it will be more satisfying for longer.
As you see, you’ve inspired me! Glad I found your posting!
Lynda says
Thanks for sharing, Carla. I had not thought of trying it hot. I agree that we all should be decreasing the amount of sugar in our diet.
Althea says
Thank you so much! I would not have guessed that a recipe for a popular cereal was already online. I thought I was going to have to wing-it from scratch alone.
I plan to use the bran cereal and whole wheat pastry-flour that I already have in my pantry. I will also leave out the cinnamon and nutmeg. And thanks for the reminder to use ground flax seeds instead of eggs.
Before this search, I really was not aware of the poor ingredients in the store bought brand. Thanks so much.
Lynda says
Thank you for visiting. I would love to hear how your recipe turns out. I wish you much success!
Patti says
I stumbled across your post when doing a search on Cracklin Oat Bran. As soon as I get to the store to buy some oat bran I will make this! I gave up the commercial version in about 1992 when they added nutmeg to the recipe. Now I can make my own and leave out the nutmeg…and the TBHQ, and other questionable “stuff.” Here goes the diet…. lol
Lynda says
Please come back and tell me what you think about it. 🙂
Patti says
I had to go to two store to get the single ingredient I was missing (oat bran.) Made it this morning…FIVE STARS!!! I will be making this regularly for a “healthy-er” snack. The best part is that I can adjust it to my personal preference. In addition to leaving out the nutmeg, I think I will likely reduce the brown sugar by half. I’ve cut sugar in so many things that I now find many recipes too sweet. I won’t change a single other thing as I think it is fabulous! Thank you, thank you for sharing this recipe!
LuAnne says
Absolutely delicious. Made exactly as directed and I agree with your daughter this is better. I had almost all the ingredients in my pantry so all I needed to pick up was the flax seeds. A little pricy if you have to buy all to start but then you could make multiple times so not too bad. Love this thanks for sharing your recipe.
Lynda says
Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I am delighted that you enjoyed it. 🙂
Nicole Cobe says
How many servings did you get? Just made this… Can not wait to try it! Crackin oat bran was my favorite cereal ever! And now this is a clean version! ?
Lynda says
Great question! Unfortunately, I don’t have the answer. I just eat it by the handful. 🙂
Angie says
Do you use rolled oats or quick?
Lynda says
I use whatever I can find in my pantry. 😉
William says
Cracklin Oat Bran is my favorite cereal; has been for many years. I just made your version: incredible. SOOO delicious! Very happy about it : )
Lynda says
Thanks, William. I love it and was surprised at how easy it was to make at home. I am glad you enjoyed it.
Crystal @ Simply Being Mommy.com says
How fun that you made your own homemade cereal 🙂
Tammy says
Oh who knew you could make something that tasted just like it! I love this cereal.
Rachel @ Following In My Shoes says
I haven’t eaten cereal in FOREVER but the Cracklin Oats were one of my husband’s favorites.
Shell Feis says
I’ve never tried that cereal but based on the ingredient list it sounds delicious!
Lolo says
This sounds like a great version of the recipe!
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
I’ve never tried cracklin oat bran and you just made me realize it. I’m not sure why; must rectify that!
Kelsey Apley says
Oh this is awesome thanks for sharing!! I love the boxed one so I am sure I would like your recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Tonya {The Traveling Praters} says
First off, I’m jealous of your Christmas gift. I keep thinking that I can make do without a food processor but it really would simplify things. Your cereal looks delicious, and personally, I prefer the clumps to the O shape.
Lynda says
Will it make you feel better if I were to tell you that I am jealous of all of your trips?
Sara Phillips says
I love this! I enjoy recreating recipes and this looks fantastic! Definitely something my family and I would enjoy!
Marcie W. says
I loved this cereal as a kid and would really like to rekindle that enjoyment. Thanks for this awesome recipe!
Dianna @ Oy Vey a Day says
That just sounds delicious. I bet my kids would enjoy this one. Pinning for later.
Heather @ Work from Home with Kids says
My husband has suffered for most of his life with digestive issues and until now no one has been able to diagnose him… he has more of taken it to be more of a lifestyle for him. Now that I’m learning more and more about ciliacs, I’m watching his diet and thinking that is a large part of his issue. I’m printing out this recipe and pinning it because it’ looks like something he may enjoy!
Kathy says
Now that looks AWESOME! Not sure I can get all of these ingredients here, but I will try. I love cereal, and so many US brands are not available here.
Thanks SO much for stopping by my blog this morning and taking the time to leave a comment.
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
Jennifer @ My Sweet Sanity says
This is definitely a good recipe for all of the New Year’s resolutions.
Ty @ Mama of 3 Munchkins says
This looks really good and I’m so looking forward to making it, Thanks!
jeanae says
I have friends who have gluten free diets, so I will share this with them.
Angela says
My sister is on a gluten free diet. She will really appreciate this recipe. Thanks!
Kelly @ Texas Type A Mom says
What a great idea! And something you can feel good about feeding your family!
Kelly @ A Girl Worth Saving says
I used to love that cereal! Your version looks incredible!
Jennifer H says
This is a great idea for hubby’s new diet plan.
Megan @ That Neat Blog says
This looks really good. I love this kind of cereal and totally need to be healthier.
Elaina says
This sounds like it would be great over yogurt!
Chelle @ oh just stop already says
Oh bookmarking this! The kids would love to make this with me.
Katy says
This really does look and sound good and I’m not a big cereal person.
Kathy says
This looks fantastic. I have been wanting a great homemade cereal recipe. Thank you for sharing!