Copycat Costco Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters

24 servings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Cool 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Costco Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters (Costco Bakery Copycat) are crispy and chewy with protein-packed nuts, dried fruit, and sweet oats.

This easy Granola Cluster recipe is based on an all-time favorite Costco product. It’s perfect for a snack or Breakfast and it tastes exactly like the Kirkland signature Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters. For more healthy whole grain recipes try my Brown Sugar Apple Whole Grain Bowl and Baked Oatmeal.

Sabrina’s Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters Recipe

So many of us are fans of Costco products, especially the Kirkland Signature items, that you can only get at their store. However, you may not always be up to a Costco trip. This copycat version is an amazing way to get your favorite Costco snack without having to go through all the trouble of searching the aisles or trying to find parking on weekends. You can even store it in bulk, no membership card required!

Chef’s Note: Why make this at home?

One of the great things about making copycat versions of your favorite food is that you know exactly what goes into the recipe. So, you can always adjust the recipe as you see fit. If you have health goals you’re trying to meet, you can decrease the amount of sugar from the store-bought granola. You can also leave out ingredients you don’t like, or that you’re allergic to. Making your own Copycat Costco Granola means you’re in control of all the ingredients and nutrition.

Costco Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters ingredients in bowls

Ingredients

  • Syrup: To make the syrup you need 1 cup butter, ½ cup maple syrup, ½ cup maple syrup, 1 cup brown sugar, and ⅓ cup water. The combination of different kinds of sweeteners gives the recipe a more complex and rich, sweet flavor than just one would. Then add a hint of cinnamon and vanilla to finish it off.
  • Fruit & Nuts: This granola is so filling, due in part to the protein-packed nuts in the mix. You’ll use 1 cup each of cashews, almonds, and walnuts for variation of flavor and crunch. For the fruit in the granola clusters, you only need 1 cup each of dried cranberries and raisins to add some chewiness to the crunch.
  • Granola: Use 5 cups quick oats for the granola mixture. You’ll grind down some of the oats to mix with whole oats for variations in texture, and the ground oats will also help blend all the ingredients together.

Kitchen Tools & Equipment

  • Cookie Sheet and Parchment Paper: A cookie sheet will allow the granola to spread nice and thin, in order to toast up well. In the end you’ll be so glad you used parchment paper as it will prevent the sweet mixture from sticking to the pan.
  • Food Processor: Grab your trusty food processor to process the oats into flour. This step is really important for the texture of the finished granola.
  • Large Pot and Spatula: Use a pot large enough to handle the 13 cups of ingredients you have, with room to stir.

How to Make

Time needed: 1 hour and 15 minutes.

  1. Prep Time

    Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set it to the side while you prep the ingredients.

  2. Oat Flour

    Add half of the quick oats to your food processor, and pulse until they’re ground into a flour. Costco Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters processed oats in a bowl

  3. Oat, Nut, Fruit Mixture

    Then add the oat flour to a mixing bowl along with the rest of the oats. Stir the almonds, cashews, walnut halves, dried cranberries, and raisins into the oat mixture.Costco Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters ingredients in a mixing bowl

  4. Sugar Mixture

    Add the butter, brown sugar,  maple syrup, honey, and water to a large pot. Then set the stovetop to medium high heat. Stir as the butter melts, and bring the mixture to a boil.Costco Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters butter melting in a pot

  5. Finish Syrup

    Once it’s boiling, turn the heat off and stir in the vanilla, cinnamon, and salt.Costco Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters butter and sugar melting in a pot

  6. Combine

    Then add the granola, nut & fruit mixture to the pot. Stir until the granola is all coated in the homemade syrup.Costco Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters ingredients cooked in a pot

  7. First Bake

    Pour the sweetened fruit and nut mixture over the prepared baking sheet. Then use your hands to press it into an even layer. There will still be some gaps throughout. Put the dish in the oven for 25-30 minutes until it’s golden brown.Costco Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters in a pan ready for baking

  8. Second Bake

    Then let it all cool, and break it into Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters. Bake for an additional 15 minutes.Costco Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters broken up in pan

  9. Serve or Store

    Let the Copycat Costco Granola cool completely before eating or storing in an airtight container.Aerial view of Costco Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters in a bowl

Recipe Card

Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters (Costco Bakery Copycat)

Costco Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters (Costco Bakery Copycat) are crispy and chewy with protein-packed nuts, dried fruit, and sweet oats.
Yield 24 servings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Author Sabrina Snyder

Ingredients
 

  • 5 cups quick oats
  • 1 cup almonds
  • 1 cup cashews
  • 1 cup walnut halves , roughly chopped
  • 1 cup dried sweetened cranberries
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar , packed
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Process half the oats to a flour, then add them to a large mixing bowl with the rest of the oats.
  • Add the almonds, cashews, walnuts, cranberries, and raisins, then stir well to combine.
  • In a large pot add the butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, and water on medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil.
  • Turn off the heat and stir in the vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt.
  • Add the oat, nut, and fruit mixture to the pot and stir well to combine.
  • Add mixture to a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and press down in an even sheet, its okay if there are gaps throughout.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until just golden brown.
  • Let cool for 20 minutes, then break apart into chunks.
  • Bake for an additional 15 minutes then let cool completely.
  • Break into bite sized chunks and store in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 56mg | Potassium: 248mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 238IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 2mg

Can this be made ahead of time?

This is an excellent recipe to make ahead of time. Once it’s all finished you can store it for up to 3 months! Bake the large batch of granola and you’ll have it for the whole family to enjoy for weeks. You can store it in small plastic containers to easily grab-and-go, or small bags to pack in lunches. 

Nutritional Facts

Nutrition Facts
Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters (Costco Bakery Copycat)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 336 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Trans Fat 0.3g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 20mg7%
Sodium 56mg2%
Potassium 248mg7%
Carbohydrates 43g14%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 23g26%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 238IU5%
Vitamin C 0.5mg1%
Calcium 52mg5%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

  1. Don’t Skip the Second Bake
    • That will really add the extra crunch to your granola, especially once you break it up and create more surface area to toast in the oven.
  2. Adjust for Substitutions
    • If you make substitutions, be sure to adjust the other ingredients so you still have the same measurements. If you simply omit one of the nuts in the recipe, you’ll have too much syrup and the mixture will be too wet. Add more of the other nuts to create balance in the recipe.

How to Store

  • Serve: After you cool and break the granola into pieces, you can keep the recipe at room temperature for up to 3 months. Just make sure to seal the Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters in an airtight container.
  • Store: If you keep your house warm and are worried about the sugars in the recipe becoming sticky, you can also keep the mixture in the fridge. Package the copycat recipe in a ziplock bag and keep it in the fridge for 3-4 months.
  • Freeze: Because all the fruits in the mix are dry, you can also freeze this recipe. Just seal it in a freezer-safe, airtight container. Then it can stay good for up to 6 months.

Ideas for Costco Granola Clusters

Costco Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters are an amazing Bakery Copycat that you can enjoy as a snack, take on a hiking trip, or serve over yogurt for breakfast. It’s a versatile recipe with lots of amazing flavors and a healthy dose of protein. It is likely to become your new favorite granola!

  • Snack: This is a flavorful granola snack on all on its own. Toss some into a bowl and enjoy before or after lunch. It would even make a nice bedtime snack.
  • Topping: This granola mixture would also taste great sprinkled on top of yogurt or layered atop a Fruit and Yogurt Parfait. Serve some granola over the top of your favorite ice cream or frozen yogurt for dessert, or a cool summer treat.
  • Cereal: Another idea is to serve the homemade granola just like cereal, in a bowl with some milk and a spoon to eat for breakfast. 
  • Trail Mix: Swap out your Costco Trail Mix with this homemade crunchy snack mix, or go wild and mix the two together for the ultimate hiking snack.

Frequent Questions

Can I swap the seeds for nuts?

Yes, you can add sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, or flax seeds to replace some of the nuts in this recipe. Just be sure you replace the same volume of nuts that you reduce in the recipe.

Why does the granola need to be cooked on the stove and baked in the oven?

When you’re cooking the syrup on the stovetop, you’re doing that so you can melt all the ingredients together, including the sugar granules. Adding the chunky granola ingredients is simply so you can toss everything in that syrup. The oven bake is what makes your granola crispy.

How do the granola ingredients stick together?

It is the syrup that works as the sticky, sweet, delicious glue for your granola. That’s why it is important to cook everything together and toss the ingredients together very well, coating everything in the syrup.

Are these Copycat Fruit and Nut Clusters gluten free?

Yes, oats are naturally gluten-free and I did not use any gluten-containing ingredients in my recipe so these granola clusters are gluten free. However, keep in mind some processing plants also process flour so if you are highly sensitive, check the label on your quick oats for a gluten-free guarantee.

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Variations

  • Granola Bars: Instead of making this recipe into Fruit and Nut Clusters, you can bake it into protein bars. Simply add the ingredients to your pan in a more tight formation. Then when it’s done baking and has cooled, you can use a knife to cut the nut and fruit mix into evenly sized bars. They make an ideal snack to take with you on a hike or for an on-the-go breakfast. You can also keep frozen fruit bars in your freezer, and bring them out any time you need easy snacks for a road trip or camping trip.
  • Chocolate Chips: If you want a chocolate mix-in, just add a cup of chocolate chips into the mix. You can use semisweet chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate chips. You can also add in some salty peanut butter flavor with peanut butter chips.
  • Extra Mix-Ins: The great thing about a snack mix like this is that you can add any of your favorite kinds of sweet and salty mix-ins to the recipe. Yogurt covered raisins, golden raisins, m&ms, or chocolate chunks. 

More Whole Grain Breakfast Recipes

Costco Fruit and Nut Granola Clusters Pinterest image

About the Author: Sabrina Snyder

Sabrina is a professionally trained Private Chef of over 10 years with ServSafe Manager certification in food safety. She creates all the recipes here on Dinner, then Dessert, fueled in no small part by her love for bacon.

Sabrina Snyder is a professionally trained personal and private chef of over 10 years who is the creator and developer of all the recipes on Dinner, then Dessert.

She is also the author of the cookbook Dinner, then Dessert – Satisfying Meals Using Only 3, 5 or 7 Ingredients, published by Harper Collins.

She started Dinner, then Dessert as a business in her office as a lunch service for her coworkers who admired her lunches before going to culinary school and becoming a full time personal chef and private chef.

As a personal chef Sabrina would cook for families one day a week and cook their entire week of dinners. All grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning was done along with instructions on reheating. As a private chef she cooked for private parties and cooked in family homes in the evenings for families on a nightly basis after working as a personal chef during the day.

Sabrina has been certified as a ServSafe Manager since 2007 and was a longstanding member of the USPCA Personal Chef Association including being on the board of the Washington DC Chapter of Chefs in the US Personal Chef Association when they won Chapter of the year.

As a member of the community of food website creators Sabrina Snyder has spoken at many conferences regarding her experiences as a food writer including the Indulge Food Conference, Everything Food Conference, Haven Food Conference and IACP Annual Food Professionals Conference.

Sabrina lives with her family in sunny California.

Dinner, then Dessert, Inc. owns the copyright on all images and text and does not allow for its original recipes and pictures to be reproduced anywhere other than at this site unless authorization is given. Read my disclosure and copyright policy. This post may contain affiliate links.

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