Description
This Gluten Free Banana Bread Granola is a deliciously wholesome twist on classic granola, infused with mashed bananas, almond butter, and warm cinnamon for a naturally sweet and crunchy snack. Perfect for breakfast on yogurt, smoothie bowls, or as a nutritious on-the-go treat, it combines oats, nuts, and natural sweeteners baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup mashed banana (about 2 medium bananas)
- 1/4 cup almond butter
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup brown or coconut sugar
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter or refined coconut oil (melted)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 4 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup chopped nuts of choice (walnuts and sliced almonds recommended)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the granola.
- Mash Bananas: In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas thoroughly until smooth to serve as the natural sweetening and binding base.
- Whisk Wet Ingredients: Add melted coconut oil or butter, maple syrup, almond butter, vanilla extract, and brown or coconut sugar to the mashed bananas. Whisk together thoroughly until the ingredients are well combined and smooth.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Incorporate rolled oats, chopped nuts, cinnamon, and salt into the wet mixture. Mix everything evenly until all dry ingredients are fully coated with the wet mixture.
- Prepare Baking Tray: Line a baking tray with parchment paper and spread the granola mixture evenly across the surface to ensure uniform baking.
- Bake and Stir: Bake the granola for 45 minutes in the preheated oven, stirring halfway through baking to promote even crispiness and prevent burning.
- Crisp Granola: Turn the oven off after baking and leave the granola inside for an additional 20 minutes. This extra time allows the granola to crisp perfectly, especially due to the moisture from the bananas.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the granola from the oven and let it cool completely. Once cooled, break the granola into clusters. Enjoy it served on yogurt, blended into smoothie bowls, or as a healthy snack on its own.
Notes
- Using refined coconut oil or unsalted butter helps keep the flavors balanced and suitable for baking.
- Allowing the granola to crisp in the turned-off oven ensures it becomes crunchy without burning due to banana moisture.
- Feel free to customize the nuts and add-ins such as seeds or dried fruits after baking for extra texture and flavor.
- This recipe is naturally gluten free if oats used are certified gluten free.
- Store granola in an airtight container for up to two weeks to maintain freshness and crunch.
