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Cracklin’ Oat Bran Cereal Clone (Gluten-Free Recipe)

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 The Original

Cracklin’ Oat Bran is one of my favorite cereals.  Apparently 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 was able to modify a recipe that I found to make a clone of the tasty morning treat.

The 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 version also cuts out palm, palm kernel and/or soybean oil with TBHQ, and soy lecithin.

Though my daughter is not a fan of the cereal like I am, I was able to get her to taste my homemade version and compare it to the store-bought.  She *honestly* told me that she preferred mine.  That’s what I am talking about!  Homemade winning the showdown over the original.

An advocate of making things easier, I like to use my food processor.  (Thanks, Mom, for the Christmas gift.  I really am using it!)

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.

A nice, somewhat thin layer is ideal so that it can “dry” out when it bakes.  That’s what makes it “crackle.”

Homemade vs. Commercial Version

So what if the homemade version is not shaped in the cute little “O’s” like Kellogg’s.  At least I know exactly what is in my cereal and just how fresh it is.

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Cracklin’ Oat Bran Cereal Clone (Gluten-Free Recipe)

Adapted from http://foodfunlife.blogspot.com/2013/04/cracklin-oat-bran-copycat-granola.html

Ingredients

  • 1½ cups oats
  • 1 cup oat bran
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup sweetened coconut
  • ½ cup ground flax seeds
  • 1 Tbsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • pinch of nutmeg
  • one-third cup coconut oil in liquid state
  • one-third cup maple syrup
  • 1 Tbsp molasses
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  2. Add all of the dry ingredients to the well of a large food processor and pulse 5-6 times.
  3. Add remaining ingredients and process on high until mixture is moist.
  4. Spread mixture onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  5. Bake for approximately 25 minutes.
  6. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Break granola into pieces and store in an airtight container.

What is your favorite cereal?

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Comments

  1. 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!

    Reply

  2. 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.

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

      • 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!

        Reply

  4. 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.

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  5. 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

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      • 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!

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  6. 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.

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  7. 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! ?

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  9. Cracklin Oat Bran is my favorite cereal; has been for many years. I just made your version: incredible. SOOO delicious! Very happy about it : )

    Reply

    • Thanks, William. I love it and was surprised at how easy it was to make at home. I am glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply

  21. 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!

    Reply

  22. 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

    Reply

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