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This low calorie cereal recipe is crispy, filling, and full of sweet, cinnamon flavor. It’s under 100 calories and tastes better than any boxed cereal.
When I was watching my calories, it was drilled in me that cereal was off limits, so I made it my mission to create a lower calorie cereal that tasted delicious and was equally as filling. With a few creative swaps, you would never guess this breakfast cereal is low cal.
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- No artificial ingredients. I made sure to use only healthy, wholesome ingredients for this recipe so I could feel good about sharing it with my family.
- No added sugar. I used sugar-free sweeteners (and a touch of maple syrup) to keep the carbs and calories as low as possible.
- Better than boxed cereal. Once I made this for my family, we never bought Cheerios again (sorry, not sorry!).
- Diet friendly. This recipe is free of wheat, grains, dairy, and can easily be made sugar-free. It’s also great for weight loss.
- Make as much as you need. I usually make a double batch so I don’t have to think about making it again for weeks!
If you’re looking for more healthy breakfast recipes, try my egg white bites, low calorie pancakes, or low calorie muffins next!
Key ingredients
- Rolled oats. I prefer the texture of old-fashioned oats. Quick oats will also work, but the cereal won’t be as crunchy, and it will cook faster (so reduce the baking time). Use gluten-free oats if needed.
- Oat flour. I make my own with extra rolled oats, but you can also buy it premade.
- Cinnamon. A must for flavor.
- Shredded coconut. Use reduced-fat and unsweetened shredded coconut.
- Granulated sweetener. I use a brown sugar substitute, but any sweetener works.
- Coconut oil. To help the cereal crisp up. Use melted refined coconut oil so there’s no coconut flavor.
- Maple syrup. Holds the granola together and adds extra sweetness. You can also use honey or agave.
- Mix ins. Optional, but I love the added crunch of nuts, dried fruit, or sugar-free chocolate chips.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
How to make low calorie cereal
Step 1- Prep. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven.
Step 2- Mix. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl, then add the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
Step 3- Bake. Pour the mixture onto the baking sheet and bake until the cereal is golden and crisp.
Step 4- Store. Let the cereal cool completely, then break it apart and store.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Stir the cereal frequently. To keep it from burning, I like to mix the cereal with a spatula every 15 minutes.
- Add the mix-ins after it’s baked. So the mix-ins don’t melt or get overcooked.
Storage instructions
To store: Store the cereal in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month.
To freeze: Place the cereal in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 6 months.
Frequently asked questions
Some of my favorite low-cal cereals are whole grain cereals like General Mills Cheerios, Shredded Wheat Flakes, Fiber One, Kellogg’s All Bran Flakes, and Rice Chex.
More low calorie favorites
- Low calorie bagels
- Low calorie pasta
- Low calorie tortillas
- Low calorie cookies
- Low calorie banana bread
- Or any of these low calorie recipes
Low Calorie Cereal (100 calories)
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup oat flour
- 1/2 cup reduced fat shredded coconut
- 3 tablespoons granulated sweetener of choice I use allulose, see notes
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons coconut oil melted
- 6 tablespoons maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Line a large baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, oat flour, shredded coconut, sweetener, and cinnamon. Add the melted coconut oil and maple syrup and mix until combined.
- Transfer the cereal mixture onto the lined baking dish and bake for 30 minutes, mixing and stirring halfway through.
- Remove the cereal from the oven and let it cool completely, before breaking it apart.
Notes
- Cut the sugar. Save some grams of sugar by swapping the maple syrup for sugar-free maple syrup or sugar-free honey.
- Add fiber. High-fiber cereals are great for making you feel full without packing extra calories. I like to have my cereal with fresh blueberries and strawberries, plus nuts, chia seeds, or flax seeds for even more fiber.
- Or more protein. Use high-protein milk (I like Fairlife) or serve the cereal over nonfat Greek yogurt for an extra 13-20 grams of protein.
Nutrition
Originally published April 2022, updated and republished March 2025
Can I here put coconut flour instead of shredded coconut?
Can I maybe use cornflakes instead of rolled oats?
If you can not eat coconut , what could replace for divertickous .
This granola is so yummy! I used monk fruit with erythritol and it tasted really good! Could use more flavor though so I added a bit of vanilla extract and salt. Overall really good! My fave granola recipe
How many grams or cups is in one serving?
Around 1/4 cup