Love Kashi cereals? Did you know that you can make your own Copy Cat Kashi Go Lean Crunch Cereal at home? It's easier than you think!
I love cereal. Like really love it. A while back I fell in particular love with Kashi's Go Lean Crunch Cereal. Not only did it hit all the right notes: crunchy with just the right amount of sweet, but it was super healthy. Whole grains! Protein! Fiber! All the other good for you stuffs that you won't find in a box of Cheerios. Then I realized: if I could make granola from scratch, why couldn't I do a Copycat Kashi Go Lean Crunch Cereal from scratch?! The answer: I can!
Ingredients Needed
- Oats - Whole old fashioned or steal cut are best for this recipe. Instant aren't quite right.
- TVP - Total Vegetable Protein, also known as textured soy protein adds some great nutrition and another kind of texture and crunch to this copycat cereal.
- Chia Seeds - These little powerhouse packed seeds are my favorite way to pack in some great nutrition to any recipe!
- Flax Seed - You could use ground flax seeds or whole. Both are great.
- Agave or Honey - Use your all natural sweetener of choice! Maple syrup is great too - although it does adjust the flavor a touch with a nice maple note.
- Eggs - Just the whites! This is to help bind it all. Don't throw away those egg yolks, though! Whip up some of your own Homemade Mayonnaise! To make it vegan, see our recipe notes for a vegan egg replacement option!
- Almonds - Sliced is our preferred but you could also use whole and just give them a little chop - just be sure to use unsalted.
- Cinnamon - We had a stick so we gave it a little fresh grate, but ground works just as fine, too.
- Salt - Just a touch!
Puffed Barley - The ingredient is really key to this cereal being different from granola and more like than Kashi cereal.
Step-by-Step Instructions
As with most of our copycat recipes, this Kashi Go Lean Crunch one is easier than you might think, and will make you wonder why you ever buy cereal from the store!
Step 1: Mix all of the dry ingredients in a bowl.
Step 2: Mix the egg whites and agave.
Step 3: Add them together and mix well!
Then, just like homemade granola, it's just a matter of baking it. This will help create those signature crunchy clumps!
Done! Copycat Kashi Go Lean Cereal ready for your favorite milk! Or (I'm totally guilty of this) just to eat on its own!
So crunchy. SO healthy!
FAQs
Very simply, barley puffed up. It has a mild, slightly sweet, and nutty flavor and really is key to getting the right texture for a Kashi cereal. It's packed full of fiber, protein, B complex vitamins, magnesium, potassium, and iron!
Nope! This can be a tough one to find in the grocery store. While it adds a great amount of protein to this cereal and a unique texture, it can be omitted and you can use oats in its place.
Yes! For the egg whites, you can use ½ tbsp of ground flaxseed + 1 ½ tbsp water to replace one egg white. See the recipe card for instructions.
Of course! Add closer to 1/3 or even up to 1/2 cup of agave for a much sweeter cereal.
Totally. We've made this with pecans and hazelnuts, too. While it won't be as similar to the Kashi cereal with a different nut, it's still just as delicious!
Enjoy! As always, if you make this recipe or any of my others, I love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below, email me, or you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
If you want to see more, be sure to sign up for my 5 Easy Ways to Start Cooking From Scratch!
Copycat Kashi Go Lean Crunch Cereal
Ingredients
- 3 cups puffed barley
- 1 cup oats whole old fashioned or steal cut
- 1 cup TVP
- 2 tablespoons flax seed whole or ground
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1/2 cup sliced / whole unsalted almonds
- 4 egg whites
- 1/4 - 1/3 cup Agave
- 1 - 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- pinch of kosher salt
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg whites and sweetener.
- Add to dry ingredients and mix very well, ensuring all is coated with egg whites. The egg whites act as a binder which is what gives you the crispy nuggets of goodness.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and add mixture in an even layer.
- Bake in middle rack for 12 - 15 minutes (check for crispy level), then remove from oven and flip cereal. Here is where you'll have large chunks - flip them but ensure that you rearrange so that it lies flat again to the baking pan.
- Bake for another 10-13 minutes.
- Cool and then store in an airtight container.
Sophia @veggies dont bite
What a great recipe! I loved that cereal!
Tracy
Thanks! Me too 🙂
Joy @ Joy Love Food
I love Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal, what a great idea to make your own, it looks delicious!
Tracy
Thank you! 🙂
Claudia | Gourmet Project
Oh Tracy I love your gourmet healthy recipes! you made my day!
Tracy
Thank you so much, Claudia!
Ali @ Home & Plate
What a great idea. If you can make granola then why not Kashi. This is the perfect way to start the day. And homemade is so much better.
Tracy
Thanks, Ali!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate
This is one of my favorite cereals. So cool that you remade it - I'm super impressed! TVP is in the recipe? That has me scratching my head a bit (I've used it rehydrated as a meatless sub), but willing to try 🙂
Tracy
Ooh really?? I'd never used it before! It has a pretty neutral taste so I can see how it'll be a great way to add protein to nearly anything; even cereal 😉
Jenn
I love Kashi cereal too. I can't believe there is TVP in this! That's sounds so crazy as usually it's used to replace meat in vegan recipes. LOL. Very creative!
Tracy
Haha as someone who's never used it before, that's what I'm learning! Would never have thought it could be used in so many ways!
ANN
I love this. In the fall and winter I devour what seems like a TON of granola. This looks so good 🙂
Tracy
Thanks, Ann!
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way
There is such a wonderful difference making your granola at home. I always like adding extra protein to it -- I've never used TVP before -- I'll be looking into it. Thank you.
Tracy
Right? Isn't homemade always better? 🙂
Platter Talk
Thanks for sharing this method of making one of our favorite foods from scratch! We have many of these ingredients in our pantry and I'm mixing up some right now!
Tracy
You're welcome! Thank you for stopping by 🙂
LydiaF
The use of TVP is really interesting, but not too strange to me. The rehydrated stuff is pretty neutral so I can see using it in this application. Glad to learn about a new preparation.
Tracy
Thanks, Lydia!