Morning Summit Copycat Cereal – Naturally Sweetened Recipe

If you’ve ever tried Morning Summit cereal from Costco, you know how delicious that combination of crunchy oats, almonds, seeds, and crispy cereal pieces can be! But I wanted to recreate this popular breakfast cereal at home using natural sweeteners instead of refined cane sugar.

This homemade Morning Summit cereal recipe is made with whole grains, toasted almonds, pumpkin seeds, coconut, honey, and pure maple syrup. I also add Cascadian Farm Vanilla Crisp Cereal, which is sweetened with date powder and contains no added sugar!

It’s crunchy, slightly sweet, and makes a big batch to keep on hand for a quick, healthy breakfast throughout the week. Plus, unlike many store-bought cereals, you get to control exactly what goes into it!

Why Make Homemade Morning Summit Cereal?

Besides being delicious, making your own breakfast cereal gives you control over the ingredients and the amount of sugar you’re adding. I especially love that I can use honey and maple syrup instead of refined cane sugar.

This healthy homemade cereal is packed with whole grains, nuts, and seeds that provide fiber, protein, and healthy fats.

The best part? It’s easy to customize with your favorite nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. And because this homemade cereal recipe makes a large batch, you can prepare it once and enjoy it for days, even weeks depending on how often you eat cereal!

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Ingredients You’ll Need

• Old-fashioned rolled oats: These whole grains create the hearty base of the cereal. I recommend avoiding quick oats since they won’t hold their texture as well.
• Almonds and pumpkin seeds: I use both almond slivers (sliced almonds) and whole almonds for a variety of textures, along with raw pumpkin seeds for extra crunch and healthy fats.
• Unsweetened coconut: Adds flavor and texture without unnecessary added sugar.
• Honey and pure maple syrup: Naturally sweeten the homemade granola mixture and help it develop a delicious golden crunch. Organic maple syrup works wonderfully, too!
• Coconut oil: Helps the ingredients toast evenly. You can use regular or organic coconut oil.
• Cinnamon, vanilla extract, and sea salt: Bring all the flavors together.
• Cascadian Farm Vanilla Crisp Cereal: Adds the lighter, crispy pieces that make this taste more like Morning Summit than traditional granola. This organic cereal is sweetened with date powder rather than added sugar.

How to Make Homemade Morning Summit Cereal

Making your own breakfast cereal is actually pretty simple!

First, combine the oats, almonds, pumpkin seeds, coconut, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl.

In a small saucepan, or microwave safe dish, gently heat the coconut oil, honey, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until melted and combined.

Pour this mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until everything is evenly coated.

Spread the cereal mixture on parchment-lined baking sheets and bake at 300°F for approximately 25 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes the first two times and then 5 minutes after that.

Once the cereal is lightly golden, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool completely. It will continue to crisp as it cools!

Finally, stir in the Cascadian Farm Vanilla Crisp Cereal and any optional add-ins.

That’s it! Your homemade cereal is ready to enjoy.

Tips for the Best Homemade Cereal

A few simple things can make a big difference!

• Don’t overcrowd your baking sheets. Spreading the cereal mixture evenly helps everything toast properly.
• Stir every 10 minutes. The edges can brown more quickly than the center, so stirring helps prevent burning.
• Keep the oven temperature low. Baking at 300°F allows the oats and nuts to toast without the honey and maple syrup browning too quickly.
• Let it cool completely. The cereal develops its crunchy texture as it cools to room temperature, so don’t worry if it still feels slightly soft when you first remove it from the oven.
• Add crispy cereal after baking. This keeps the lighter cereal pieces from becoming overly toasted.

Optional Add-Ins and Variations

One of my favorite things about homemade cereal is how easy it is to customize!

If you’re wanting to incorporate a little extra fiber, protein, or variety, here are a few ingredients you might enjoy adding.

Nuts and Seeds

• Ground flax seeds (2–4 tablespoons)
• Chia seeds (1–2 tablespoons)
• Hemp seeds or hemp hearts (2–4 tablespoons)
• Sunflower seeds (¼–½ cup)
• Chopped pecans or walnuts (½ cup)

Dried Fruit

• Chopped dates (½–⅔ cup)
• Raisins (½ cup)
• Dried cranberries or blueberries (½ cup)
• Chopped dried apricots (½ cup)
• Freeze-dried strawberries or raspberries (¼–½ cup)

Other Additions

• Unsweetened puffed rice for extra crunch
• Cacao nibs or a few chocolate chips for a chocolatey variation
• Extra cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice

Add raw nuts and sunflower seeds before baking. Ground flax seeds, chia seeds, hemp hearts, and dried fruit are best stirred in after the cereal has cooled.

If you’re avoiding refined cane sugar, be sure to check the labels on any packaged add-ins, especially dried fruit and chocolate chips.

How to Serve Homemade Morning Summit Cereal

Of course, my favorite way to enjoy this cereal is in a cereal bowl with cold milk, but there are plenty of other delicious ways to serve it!

• With your favorite milk: Enjoy it with regular milk, almond milk, or whatever your family prefers.
• Over homemade yogurt: Sprinkle it over plain or Greek yogurt for a delicious combination of creamy and crunchy textures.
• With fresh fruit: Add sliced bananas, strawberries, or fresh blueberries for extra flavor and natural sweetness.
• As a snack: This cereal is delicious by the handful, even without milk!

How to Store Homemade Morning Summit Cereal

Once the cereal has cooled completely, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in a cool, dry pantry.

For the best flavor and texture, enjoy it within a couple of weeks.

You can also freeze it in an airtight, freezer-safe container for two to three months to extend its shelf life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use quick oats?

Old-fashioned rolled oats work best because they provide a heartier texture and hold their shape during baking.

Can I reduce the honey or maple syrup?

You can experiment with reducing the amount of sugar by using less honey or maple syrup, but keep in mind that these ingredients also help create the crunchy texture.

Does this recipe contain refined cane sugar?

No! Unlike many conventional cereals, this homemade cereal uses honey and pure maple syrup instead of refined cane sugar. The Cascadian Farm Vanilla Crisp Cereal is sweetened with date powder and contains no added sugar, according to its ingredient label. The finished cereal still contains sugar from the honey, maple syrup, and dates used in the crispy cereal.

Can I make this gluten-free?

Yes, by using certified gluten-free oats and substituting a gluten-free crispy cereal. Cascadian Farm Vanilla Crisp contains wheat, so the original recipe is not gluten-free.

Save for later and share with a friend

I love being able to recreate some of our favorite store-bought foods using simple, real food ingredients. This homemade Morning Summit cereal is easy to make, full of delicious textures, and perfect for busy mornings!

Whether you enjoy it with milk, sprinkled over homemade yogurt, or straight from the jar, I hope your family enjoys it as much as we do!

If you give this recipe a try, I would greatly appreciate if you came back and gave it a 5-star review! It helps me out so much! 

I also love seeing all of the delicious creations you make! Share your photo over on instagram or facebook and give me a tag @littletennesseehome