~Amanda~
If you’re like me, you always seem to have a few bananas in the house that are just about to go bad. I don’t know why, but I can never seem to eat all the bananas that I buy every week, yet I always buy the same amount! I think it’s because I always seem to find some sort of delicious bread, muffin, or other yummy snack to use them in every week, so I subconsciously buy extras so I HAVE to make these delicious treats. I am constantly coming up with new ways to use all these tasty bananas; last week it was a banana, apple, and chia seed muffins and the week before it was the world’s greatest gluten-free banana bread (both recipes to come in the future). This week I took the wonderful flavors from that warm nutty banana bread and used them as inspiration to make Banana Bread Granola. It’s probably one of the best uses for bananas. ever.
I absolutely love granola! It has so many of my favorite things in it, it’s so versatile, and even has great health benefits. Eating good granola (specifically homemade granola because you can control all of the ingredients going into it) can be very beneficial to your health. Oats and nuts contain a lot of dietary fiber which helps regulate digestion and the soluble fiber in the oats can also help lower bad cholesterol levels. Granola is also a good source of heathy fats (from the nuts) when used in moderate proportions, which can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. And finally, granola is a great source of vitamins and minerals; it generally contains more vitamins and minerals per serving than refined cereals, specifically Vitamin E, thiamin, and folate. However, granola is a bit higher in calories so it’s important to pay attention to your serving size to get the greatest benefit out of it. One serving is about ½ cup.
Now you may be thinking, this all sounds nice, but homemade granola seems like a lot of work. It is surprisingly simple to make! To make this Banana Bread Granola you begin by combining the oats, nuts, salt, sugar, cinnamon, and chia seeds in a bowl (I am obsessed with cinnamon and always add extra; I love the flavor as well as the incredible nutritional benefits it has). Set that aside and warm the agave, coconut oil, and vanilla on the stove for just a few minutes. Add the mashed banana, and then mix with the dry ingredients. You then just spread it all on a baking sheet and pop it in the oven for about 25 minutes and you’re done. Your house will smell incredible, you’ll have the most delicious granola ever, and everyone will think you’re awesome because you make your own homemade granola. Enjoy it topped with some cold almond milk, on top of some Greek yogurt with honey, or just by itself as a snack!
- 3 cups rolled oats (GF)
- 1 1/2 cups nuts (use your favorites; walnuts, pecans, almonds, cashews, etc)
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon (less if you're not a big fan)
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds (or flax seed)
- 1/3 cup agave
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large banana, mashed
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, sugar, salt, cinnamon and chia seeds. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan, add the agave, coconut oil, and vanilla. Place over medium low heat and warm until everything is melted and combined (3-5 minutes). Remove from heat and mix in the mashed banana.
- Pour the banana mixture over the oat mixture and stir until combined. Spread on a greased baking sheet (or two) in an even layer. Bake for about 20-25 minutes until golden brown. As it nears the end of the baking time, watch it carefully; it can go from golden to burnt very quickly. (Stir granola halfway through the baking time if you want a finer granola with less clumps, if you like the clumps, no need to stir). Remove from oven, gently toss, and set aside to cool completely.
- Store in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks. Enjoy!
- *Serving suggestions: In a bowl with some almond milk, on top of greek yogurt with honey and fruit, or by itself as a delicious snack!
