FAQs

The names Muesli and Granola are often used interchangeably but are actually quite different, Granola is made by mixing the dry ingredients; nuts, seeds, oats spices with oil and sweetener and baking in the oven whereas Muesli is raw and without any liquids added. In the manufacture of Granola sometimes rapeseed oil, olive oil or coconut oil are used whereas bigger manufacturers use vegetable oil which is cheaper. All Maria Lucia Bakes products are made with high quality rapeseed or coconut oil. The oils are mixed with sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup, agave syrup instead of sugar like some bigger brands use. We have toasted Mueslis in our range where we toast very lightly some ingredients to add a little crunch and enhance the flavours.

On average a portion of our Granola is around 180 calories plus either milk or yoghurt and that is for 40g. On its own in a bowl it doesn’t look very much, but once fruit and yoghurt, containing protein, is added then it is quite filling. Most of us probably are used to pouring much larger portions than that into a bowl as if it was cornflakes. Granola is filling and will keep you full for longer down to the oats, nuts and seeds. Calorie wise it does add up, so we’d recommend adding yoghurt and fruit and measuring out those portions !

Sprinkled on Greek yoghurt with summer berries is Granola at it’s best or a heaped spoonful on a bowl of creamy porridge in wintertime for added crunch and flavour livens up your healthy breakfast routine.

Granola tastes wonderful with dairy or nut milk or yoghurt, especially Greek yoghurt. It tends to be more filling with yoghurt because of the protein. How about trying a combination of both?

You can add nut butter and coconut oil to Granola, press very firmly into a tray and chill or freeze, slice up into bars. Using our No Added Sugar Granola is an option so that you can add your own sweetener such as honey or for a vegan treat add maple syrup.

Granola is so versatile and is perfect in scones, cookies, muffins, breads, added to crumble toppings, cheesecake bases. It has endless uses and can enhance many bakes or pancakes.

Most Granola contains sweeteners and dried fruit which spikes your blood sugar, for this reason diabetics usually avoid this type of cereal. Maria Lucia Bakes Macadamia & Coconut Keto Granola doesn’t contain any sweeteners or starchy carbohydrates which usually spike blood sugar. The flavour comes from naturally sweet cinnamon, vanilla and coconut oil. It is delicious with plain yoghurt for a low-carb breakfast or snack.

Lots of Granolas are sweetened with honey which means they are not suitable for vegans. There are variants on the market that are unsweetened and therefore suitable. Maria Lucia Bakes No Added Sugar Granola and Macadamia & Coconut Keto Granola are both unsweetened and so are vegan friendly. Delicious served with coconut yoghurt and fresh berries.

There are two sources of fat in Granola, from the nuts and seeds and also from the oil that the cereal is mixed with before baking to give the toasted finish and crunch. In our cereals we use the best quality nuts such as cashews, almonds, walnuts and macadamia and coconut or rapeseed oil. The cereals can’t therefore be low fat but the source of fats is good.

No, it is not advisable to eat Granola or Muesli when you have a nut allergy as although some recipes do not contain nuts the cereals are made in a small bakery facility where nuts are used.

There is therefore always the risk of cross contamination even though the work practices are to the highest European standards.

The fiber content varies amongst the various cereals however it is high in all of them. The fiber comes from the oats, quinoa, chia seeds etc.

Some Granolas on the market contain wheat. None of Maria Lucia Bakes cereals contain wheat as they are made in a dedicated gluten free bakery.

Ideally on a low-carb or keto diet it is best to avoid grains and the majority of granolas are made with oats as well as sweeteners. Maria Lucia Bakes Macadamia & Coconut Keto granola is low-carb as it is made from coconut flakes, nuts, seeds, cinnamon, vanilla and coconut oil. It has just 3g net carbs per 30g portion making it the ideal low-carb or keto breakfast.

The quantity of sugar in Granola varies, in the Maria Lucia Bakes range we use only natural sugars including honey and dried fruits in our cereal range. We responded to customer feedback and created a no added sugar, completely sugar free granola, which is now one of our most popular products. People can add their own sweetener or fruit and many tell us that it has enough flavour and doesn’t need sweetener. We have a Macadamia & Coconut Keto Granola, grain free and unsweetened, flavoured with cinnamon, vanilla and coconut oil which are all naturally sweet.

Yes we think it is very tasty and it has a lovely crunch. It makes for a different breakfast or snack and is very tasty with yoghurt and fruit and livens up a bowl of plain porridge no end.

That very much comes down to personal preference. Generally muesli is eaten with milk and it’s quite a soft and maybe plainer breakfast, delicious nonetheless. Granola is baked and tends to be a little crunchier and has more flavour due to the honey or maple syrup it’s baked in. The most popular way to eat granola is with yoghurt and fruit. They can be quite different breakfasts from each other.

The most popular cereals in Maria Lucia Bakes range with kids are Cashew Almond and Cinnamon Granola and Date and Banana Muesli. I am surprised at kid’s reaction to our No Added Sugar Granola as it is unsweetened. Parents are very often delighted that their kids prefer it to sweetened variants.

Take a look at our recipe page where you will see recipes for kids.

Bircher muesli is also known as overnight oats and is a sublime summer breakfast cereal and is kind to the digestive system from soaking the oats, nuts and seeds overnight. The simplest recipe is to use our No Added Sugar Granola. Add a 40g portion to a bowl and pour in a good quality apple juice to the top of the cereal. Put two tablespoons of Greek yoghurt on top. Place in fridge overnight. Next morning the oats will have soaked up the apple juice so add a little more in and then stir the yoghurt through. You will have a cool, creamy bowl, lightly sweetened cereal that will keep you going for hours.

Most cereals contain grains in some form or other that are high in carbohydrates. Maria’s keto granola is grain free, made with coconut flakes, seeds, nuts, spices, vanilla and coconut oil all of which are low-carb and suitable for someone on a keto diet or for diabetics. None of the ingredients will spike your blood sugar.

To keep your bowl of cereal low-carb or suitable for keto diets simply add a full fat Greek Yoghurt and add a drizzle of double cream to keep your healthy fats up. Also delicious with strawberries, blueberries and other low-carb fruit.

Many keto cereals on the market have artificial sweeteners. Maria Lucia Bakes keto cereals are unsweetened, instead the flavour comes from coconut oil, vanilla, cinnamon and lots of healthy  fats from nuts.

Add keto granola to low-carb cakes or bread recipes. Crush keto cereal in a food processor, add melted butter and use for a keto cheesecake mix. Also delicious for added crunch as a topping on keto pancakes.

Many commercial cereals are highly processed and contain all kinds of sugars and starches. Maria Lucia Bakes Keto granola is hand-baked in small batches using only high quality natural ingredients.

We use coconut oil in our keto cereals making it suitable for low-carb and keto diets. No palm oil or vegetable oils are used in our keto cereal.

Coconut milk is perfect with keto cereal as it has plenty of healthy fats that will keep you full for longer. Coconut yoghurt is also an option or any nut milks, such as almond milk.

Erythritol is great for baking. You can even make meringues with it! It dissolves just like sugar. Great for adding to hot drinks and desserts.

No, Erythritol is suitable for diabetics as it maintains your blood sugar levels.

No, it is not bitter. It tastes just like sugar! You won’t know the difference. There is no after-taste.

Erythritol is safe to consume and is more gentle on the stomach than other artificial sweeteners. If consumed in excessive amounts it may cause discomfort.

Maria Lucia Bakes Erythritol is 100% organic. It is a totally clean label, GMO-free sugar replacement with no additives. It is vegan-friendly, Soy free and Gluten free.

Perfect for those on a low-carb/Keto diet. Get that sweet taste without the carbs. Erythritol contains zero active carbs as polyols are not absorbed by the body. 0 GI. Also suitable for diabetics as it maintains your blood sugar levels. No blood sugar spikes! No post-sugar slump!

Erythritol is great for baking. You can even make meringues with it! It dissolves just like sugar. Great for adding to hot drinks and desserts. Not as sweet as sugar so you made need to add extra when substituting for sugar in your favourite recipes.

Erythritol is suitable for diabetics as it maintains your blood sugar levels.

Yes, you can even make meringues with it! It dissolves just like sugar.

On average a portion of our Granola is around 180 calories plus either milk or yoghurt and that is for 40g. On its own in a bowl it doesn’t look very much, but once fruit and yoghurt, containing protein, is added then it is quite filling. Most of us probably are used to pouring much larger portions than that into a bowl as if it was cornflakes. Granola is filling and will keep you full for longer down to the oats, nuts and seeds. Calorie wise it does add up, so we’d recommend adding yoghurt and fruit and measuring out those portions!

Sprinkled on Greek yoghurt with summer berries is granola at it’s best or a heaped spoonful on a bowl of creamy porridge in wintertime for added crunch and flavour to liven up your healthy breakfast routine.

Granola tastes wonderful with dairy or nut  milk or yoghurt, especially Greek yoghurt. It tends to be more filling with yoghurt because of the protein. How about trying a combination of both?

You can add nut butter and coconut oil to granola, press very firmly into a tray and chill or freeze, slice up into bars. Using our No Added Sugar granola is an option so that you can add your own sweetener such as honey or for a vegan treat add maple syrup.

Granola is so versatile and is perfect in scones, cookies, muffins, breads, added to crumble toppings, cheesecake bases. It has endless uses and can enhance many bakes or pancakes.

We make this granola without any sweeteners, the flavour comes from cinnamon, natural vanilla, coconut oil. It does not taste sweet but has flavour. It is best enjoyed with plain Greek yoghurt and strawberries.

This Granola contains oats which are carbohydrates so it will have some impact of your blood glucose levels. We can’t therefore recommend it for diabetics, however we get feedback from some diabetics that they can eat it. The carbohydrate content per 100g is 13.6g which is very low by comparison to most Granola cereals on the market. An even lower carb Granola is our keto cereal.

This is the perfect Granola to make bars from as it is unsweetened. Take some cereal and put it in a bowl. In a saucepan, gently warm nut butter, honey and coconut oil. Pour over cereal and mix well. Press very firmly into a tray lined with baking paper. Cut into squares. Once cool place in fridge or freezer. Store in fridge.

Soak a bowl of cereal in apple juice and Greek yoghurt and leave in the fridge overnight. Next morning the oats will have soaked up the liquid so add more juice until you have your preferred consistency. Stir and enjoy. Tip: add some grated apple and some berries for a delicious summer breakfast.

On average a portion of our Granola is around 180 calories plus either milk or yoghurt and that is for 40g. On its own in a bowl it doesn’t look very much, but once fruit and yoghurt, containing protein, is added then it is quite filling. Most of us probably are used to pouring much larger portions than that into a bowl as if it was cornflakes. Granola is filling and will keep you full for longer down to the oats, nuts and seeds. Calorie wise it does add up, so we’d recommend adding yoghurt and fruit and measuring out those portions!

Sprinkled on Greek yoghurt with summer berries is granola at it’s best or a heaped spoonful on a bowl of creamy porridge in wintertime for added crunch and flavour livens up your healthy breakfast routine.

Granola tastes wonderful with dairy or nut  milk or yoghurt, especially Greek yoghurt. It tends to be more filling with yoghurt because of the protein. How about trying a combination of both?

You can add nut butter and coconut oil to granola, press very firmly into a tray and chill or freeze, slice up into bars. Using our No Added Sugar Granola is an option so that you can add your own sweetener such as honey or for a vegan treat add maple syrup.

Granola is so versatile and is perfect in scones, cookies, muffins, breads, added to crumble toppings, cheesecake bases. It has endless uses and can enhance many bakes or pancakes. Try Cranberry Coconut and Chia Seed Granola sprinkled on a green salad with goats cheese and a drizzle of honey.

We use honey and dried fruit to sweeten our Granola. In the Cranberry Coconut and Chia Seed Granola the cranberries are sweetened with a little sugar as otherwise they would be tart. Other than that it’s just a little honey. Natural vanilla and coconut also add some level of sweetness. This cereal is only lightly sweetened.

This comes down to personal taste. For me it is Greek yoghurt!

Per 40g portion there are 183 calories and the sugar content is 6.2g from the dried cranberries and honey.

On average a portion of our Granola is around 180 calories plus either milk or yoghurt and that is for 40g. On its own in a bowl it doesn’t look very much, but once fruit and yoghurt, containing protein, is added then it is quite filling. Most of us probably are used to pouring much larger portions than that into a bowl as if it was cornflakes. Granola is filling and will keep you full for longer down to the oats, nuts and seeds. Calorie wise it does add up, so we’d recommend adding yoghurt and fruit and measuring out those portions!

Sprinkled on Greek yoghurt with summer berries is Granola at it’s best or a heaped spoonful on a bowl of creamy porridge in wintertime for added crunch and flavour livens up your healthy breakfast routine. Our Apricot and Walnut Granola is delicious added to porridge when you are cooking it.

Granola tastes wonderful with dairy or nut  milk or yoghurt, especially Greek yoghurt. It tends to be more filling with yoghurt because of the protein. How about trying a combination of both?  My favourite way to eat Apricot and Walnut Granola is on a bowl of porridge.

You can add nut butter and coconut oil to granola, press very firmly into a tray and chill or freeze, slice up into bars. Using our No Added Sugar Granola is an option so that you can add your own sweetener such as honey or for a vegan treat add maple syrup.

Granola is so versatile and is perfect in scones, cookies, muffins, breads, added to crumble toppings, cheesecake bases. It has endless uses and can enhance many bakes or pancakes. Try Apricot & Walnut Granola sprinkled on a Rhubarb Crumble.

We use honey, treacle and unsulphured apricots to sweeten our granola. It has the lowest sugar content of all of our sweetened Granolas containing only 5g sugar for a 40g portion.

This comes down to personal taste, for me it is warm milk…..go on, try it!

Per 40g portion there are 181 calories and the sugar content is 5g from the unsulphured apricots, treacle and honey.

Usually Granola is made from oats but not everyone can eat them, especially newly diagnosed coeliacs. On diagnosis coeliacs are told to avoid all oats including gluten free oats for a period of a few months until inflammation in the gut subsides. With this in mind we created our ancient grains granola recipe. The main ingredients are buckwheat, quinoa and millet with rice puffs, coconut, seeds, sultanas, cinnamon treacle and honey.

Yes, this is suitable for all coeliacs as it does not contain oats. Oats contain a protein called avenin which a small percentage of coeliacs cannot tolerate. The alternative ingredients in this cereal will not affect you.

This is a delicious breakfast cereal but is also versatile, with a small amount adding delicious crunch to bread, scones, cookies and as a topping for poached pears. Try using Ancient Grains Granola sprinkled on your creamy porridge.  It adds a lovely crunch.

We use organic banana flakes in our date and banana toasted cereal. It looks like powder. With the addition of milk the banana flakes melt making the milk taste a little like a banana milk shake. Kids love this cereal, no wonder ! Make sure to shake the bag of cereal well as contents settle over time.

No sugar is added to our Mueslis. The sweetness comes from natural sugars in the banana flakes and dates.

All of our cereals are high in fibre from the oats, seeds, nuts and fruits.

The best way to store Muesli or Granola is to decant it into a cereal container to prevent the air and moisture affecting it. If you haven’t got a cereal container or jar, use a clothes peg or an elastic band to keep it closed. Failing that and you feel your cereal has softened from when you first opened it, why not turn it into overnight oats by soaking in almond milk and yoghurt or add it to baked creations.

Our Fig and Almond Toasted Muesli is probably our most sophisticated cereal, lightly sweetened by the chewy figs, dates and sultanas and with the earthiness of buckwheat. It is very lightly toasted to enhance the flavours of coconut and bring out the flavours of all of the ingredients. Delicious with ice cold milk.

No sugar is added to our Mueslis. The sweetness comes from natural sugars in the figs, sultanas and dates.

All of our cereals are high in fibre from the oats, seeds, nuts and fruits.

The best way to store Muesli or Granola is to decant it into a cereal container to prevent the air and moisture affecting it. If you haven’t got a cereal container or jar, use a clothes peg or an elastic band to keep it closed. Failing that and you feel your cereal has softened from when you first opened it, why not turn it into overnight oats by soaking in almond milk and yoghurt or add it to baked creations.

We can send a hamper to anywhere in Ireland, the UK, Italy, Spain or France. For any other country just drop us an email  info@marialuciabakes.com and we will quote for shipping. We have sent our hampers all over the world!

Yes, we’d love that ! We have cute cards and we will handwrite your special message and add it to the hamper for you.

If we get an order, ideally before 11am ( just call us to see if you’re too late for today’s dispatch +353 1 493 8570)  we send it by courier same day and usually it arrives in Ireland next day. Unfortunately we can’t 100% guarantee that it will arrive the next day but lets just say that it usually does. At the moment we are in the midst of a pandemic and from time to time it is taking an extra day. If you live in Dublin and would be prepared to collect from Dublin 14 then that is also an option. Best thing is to drop us an email and we’ll do what we can to help!

Yes you can, just let us check that we have your favourite cereal in stock. If we are particularly busy then we might temporarily be out of stock of one or two flavours.

We think so! However, please bear in mind than when a person is newly diagnosed as a coeliac they will be told to avoid all oats, including gluten free oats  for a number of months before gradually reintroducing them to test how their bodies respond. Approximately 5% of coeliacs will never be able to tolerate gluten free oats so it is best to check with them before placing the order as most of our cereals contain gluten free oats.

The hamper box is made from a high-quality card which has a basket weave printed onto it with Maria Lucia Bakes logo. It is a beautiful box and one that can be repurposed to store items after the contents have been enjoyed. Good for the planet and less waste.

There is no sweetener in our new Pecan and Almond Butter low-carb and keto-friendly bar. We use all natural ingredients which bring their own natural sweetness. No sugars, syrups or so called natural sweeteners in this keto snack.

The bar is 40g and contains just under 3g of carbs making it ideal for anyone on a keto diet.

No, the keto bar has a soft slightly moist texture from the almond butter and coconut oil. If you would prefer is slightly firmer then store it in the fridge or freezer even.

Yes, the bar is filling from the high percentage of nuts to the healthy keto fats from the nuts, seeds and coconut oil. Many customers report having one of these keto bars as a meal replacement. They certainly make a healthy keto snack for travelling or on-the-go.

These cookies are individually wrapped to prevent any risk of cross contamination in your kitchen, lunchbox or in your cafe.

These buttery crumbly cookies are so delicious and they melt in the mouth. Just as well they are individually wrapped to prevent you from reaching for another.

We don’t add nuts to the recipe but please be aware that if you have a nut allergy its best that you avoid all of our products as they are made in a small bakery where nuts are used on a regular basis therefore there is a risk of cross contamination.

Our on-the-go pots contain a 40g portion of granola leaving plenty of room for you to add yoghurt and fruit.

Yes, a small folded spoon is in with the cereal.

The pot can re-rinsed out with tepid water and a little washing up liquid a used a few times. Why not buy a box of granola and measure out a 40g portion to take to work or on your travels. Kind to the planet and kind to your pocket.

No, the Granola is ready to eat. Snack on it on it’s own at any time of day or add your favourite yoghurt or milk.

Simply add boiling water, replace the lid. Allow it to stand for a couple of minutes, stir and enjoy. If the porridge is too runny, replace the lid and leave for another minute. Too thick? Add a little extra hot water or a spoon of yoghurt or milk. No microwave needed making this the perfect Al desko breakfast.

Yes, a folding spoon is enclosed.

We add a small amount of coconut sugar which is lower GI than regular refined sugar. It is mildly sweet with a feint caramel taste. To sweeten it more add cinnamon or fruit or granola.

Yes, our porridge pots are dairy free, no milk powder is added. Instead the creaminess comes from the rice flakes.

Yes, our porridge pots are suitable for people on a vegan diet.

Simply add boiling water, replace the lid. Allow it to stand for a couple of minutes, stir and enjoy. If the porridge is too runny, replace the lid and leave for another minute. Too thick? Add a little extra hot water or a spoon of yoghurt or milk. No microwave needed making this the perfect Al desko breakfast.

Yes, a folding spoon is enclosed.

No, mildly sweet from the freeze dried raspberries. To sweeten it more add cinnamon or fruit or granola.

Yes, our porridge pots are dairy free, no milk powder is added. Instead the creaminess comes from the rice flakes.

Yes, our porridge pots are suitable for people on a vegan diet.

Yes, this is an oat-free porridge made from buckwheat, rice flakes and raspberries. It does not taste the same as oat porridge but it resembles regular porridge in the sense that it is a warming slightly creamy cereal.

Most cereals contain grains in some form or other that are high in carbohydrates. Maria’s keto granola is grain free, made with coconut flakes, seeds, nuts, spices, vanilla and coconut oil all of which are low-carb and suitable for someone on a keto diet or for diabetics. None of the ingredients will spike your blood sugar.

To keep your bowl of cereal low-carb or suitable for keto diets simply add a full fat Greek Yoghurt and add a drizzle of double cream to keep your healthy fats up. Also delicious with strawberries, blueberries and other low-carb fruit.

Many keto cereals on the market have artificial sweeteners. Maria Lucia Bakes keto cereals are unsweetened, instead the flavour comes from coconut oil, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and lots of healthy fats from nuts.

Add keto granola to low-carb cakes, cookies or bread recipes. Crush keto cereal in a food processor, add melted butter and use for a keto cheesecake mix. Also delicious for added crunch as a topping on keto pancakes.

Many commercial cereals are highly processed and contain all kinds of sugars and starches. Maria Lucia Bakes Keto granola is hand-baked in small batches using only high quality natural ingredients.

We use coconut oil in our keto cereals making it suitable for low-carb and keto diets. No palm oil or vegetable oils are used in our keto cereal.

Coconut milk is perfect with keto cereal as it has plenty of healthy fats that will keep you full for longer. Coconut yoghurt is also an option or any nut milks, such as almond milk.

The crackers are savoury but not salty, they have a mild but not overpowering rosemary flavour and a hint of garlic. They are crunchy too.

Only 0.5g carbs per cracker.

Many crackers on the market contain vegetable oils, things like palm oil or sunflower oil. Our crackers contain coconut oil.

Some tasty ideas: Pate, cream cheese, avocado, tapenade.

18 or 19.

The thoughts of making bread is scary because we have been accustomed to hearing how you need to kneed bread, add yeast, allow it to rise and it all sounds very daunting.

Our bread is so easy to make, anyone can do it and it has yet to go wrong for me, and I’m not a confident bread maker!

All you do is get your ingredients ready : The bag of bread mix, some water, melted butter that you allow to cool so that it doesn’t cook the next ingredients which are : beaten eggs. You beat the eggs to incorporate a little air which makes your bread lighter. You follow the instructions on the label on the back of the pack, mix ingredients together and then you pour it into a lined medium loaf tin. Why line the tin? So it doesn’t stick or use a silicone loaf tin and then no need to line it.

Butter, eggs (4) and water

It stores well in the fridge for about 5 days. Lots of people tell me that they slice the bread once cooled out of the oven and store some in the fridge and the rest in the freezer in ziplock bags. It can be toasted from frozen but might need two ‘goes’!

It is a medium density bread, not as light as a sliced loaf that you typically find in sandwiches but it’s not as heavy as an Irish soda bread. It’s not cakey or eggy I’m reliably informed by regular customers.

The 260g bread mix by the time it has the water, eggs and butter added and is baked usually ends up weighing approximately 620g. I slice it fairly thinly as I add lots of toppings, so for me I get 20 slices out of a loaf. A generous slice and you would get 15 or 16 from a loaf.

This bread is low carb and keto friendly and has approximately 1.5 – 2g carbs per slice depending on how thick you slice it. Then you have toppings to add to it. Assuming you keep your toppings very low carb and you keep your daily carb intake low then this should not affect your ketosis however every person is different.