I was sipping wine with another blogger friend earlier in the week (Hi Erin!) and we were discussing how we just weren’t ready for this season to end. Yes, it might be 90 degrees and humid as all get out, but I would rather be able to side on a patio in the shade than freeze my buns off scurrying into an overheated restaurant for happy hour, hands down. Of course, our discussion turned to food and we both agreed that we were just not ready to pull out the pumpkin and fall flavors quite yet, just not now at least. I know September is here and fall is knocking on our door, but I just can’t. Not yet! For me, it’s more about holding onto what is left of summer and savoring the days, rather than hurrying up and getting to Halloween (WHAT) already. This brings me to my next point, which is, don’t be like me and make granola in your very old and very hot house on a 90 degree day while also running around the house doing a million other things. You will feel like you are living inside your oven and you will be desperate to stick your head in the freezer. Just a word to the wise!
This batch of banana bread granola was actually born out of a lot of recipe flops this week. I had a peach pie that turned out tasting like pillows of peaches and cream heaven, but looked crazy and had a crust that wouldn’t budge out of the pie pan. Second recipe was a batch of pecan praline cookies and just were off, in all kinds of ways. Not sweet enough, too chewy and honestly, I remembered that I don’t love pecans enough to eat an entire cookie filled with them. I even tried to salvage the batch of cookies by dipping them in chocolate, but they were still bound to the trash can. C’est la vie! So yesterday, when I set out to make a recipe, I just needed it to work. After a few flops, I really just needed one thing to work and to have that ‘ah ha!’ success of finally nailing the perfect banana bread granola. Alas, it worked! I was picking pieces of this granola hot out of the pan, burning my fingers and mouth in the process, but it felt so good to finally have a recipe that just worked out. Bonus points, it’s super easy too! The extra long bake time is due to all the moisture that the bananas bring to the granola, but it’s worth the wait. Baking the granola for longer draws out all the moisture, but still leaves that banana bread-like flavor. Plus, who doesn’t like something that can do triple duty as breakfast/snack/dessert?
While I was searching around my site, I discovered I have several granola recipes, so I might be a little into homemade granola, just maybe?
Toasted Millet and Pecan Granola (Gluten Free)
Toasted Pistachio and Almond Pulp Granola
Cranberry Banana Bread Granola (more of a winter granola!)
Maple Sweetened Quinoa and Oat Granola
Blueberry and Granola Breakfast Popsicles (I mean, it has granola in it!)
Dark Chocolate Banana Bread Granola
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 80 minutes
- Yield: 5 cups 1x
- Category: Breakfast
Description
Banana bread granola. All the flavors of an easy vegan banana bread, in granola form! Studded with dark chocolate and loaded with coconut, almonds, and lots of banana flavor.
Ingredients
- 1–2 ripe bananas
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 3/4 cup sliced almonds
- 3/4 cup shredded coconut
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoons grated nutmeg (the fresh stuff is the best!)
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
- 1/3 cup chopped dark chocolate
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, blend together the bananas, olive oil, extracts, maple syrup and brown sugar. The number of bananas you use is going to depend on how much of a banana flavor you want. Use a hand mixer on medium to blend together thoroughly and to ensure that all the banana chunks get smoothed out. You want a smooth mixture with no chunks! Set bowl aside.
- In a large bowl, stir together the oats, almonds, coconut, cinnamon, nutmeg, and flaxseed. Pour the banana mixture over the oat mixture and stir together until totally combined. Spread the mixture out evenly onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 45-60 minutes. Start checking the mixture about 45 minutes, just to make sure it doesn’t burn at the edges.
- Cool and store in a covered container for up to a week.
- In
whiskandshout says
Banana bread in granola form… plus chocolate! Good stuff 🙂 Pinning
thenomadicvegan says
Congratulations on your success! I know that feeling when you just really need a win, and this recipe sure sounds like a winner! I personally haven’t had great success with homemade granola; it never seems to stick together right. I’m willing to give this one a try though!
sproutsandchocolate says
What an awesome recipe idea! I save my granola recipes for the cooler months but like you said, they will be here sooner than I would like!
The Frosted Vegan says
Ack, I know!
todd wagner says
Haha, I found myself doing the same thing the other day: baking a million things, and turning our house into a giant oven. But THIS looks way better than anything that we made! I love it when a delicious recipe emerges out of some chaos – truly one of the best feelings ever!
The Frosted Vegan says
Yes I agree! It makes the oppressive heat somewhat bearable 🙂
Hannah | The Swirling Spoon says
Oooo, this looks so clumpy and crispy, perfect <3 I could definitely eat this for dessert as well as breakfast!
The Frosted Vegan says
More clumps= better, right? 🙂
Melanie @ Food Heals Me says
Summer should never end; I would totally rather be hot than cold too. It’s definitely worth doing more food prep and baking when you have more desserts, snacks, and breakfast. The best part is when it’s not a quick pre-packaged snack for on the go, but instead, the treat you made from scratch.
The Frosted Vegan says
Agreed!
kathryn @ The Scratch Artist says
Hi Abby,
I loved what you wrote about recipe failures (sorry). I could sooooo relate. And I am definitely that person who makes an oven demanding dish on a boiling hot day only to realize half-way through that my brain is melting and I am a complete maniac for ever starting this project!
The Frosted Vegan says
haha yes! That is exactly how I feel 🙂
Sarah | Well and Full says
What a recipe comeback!! This granola looks sooo yummy and decadent. 😀
The Frosted Vegan says
Thanks love! It turned out to be a winner 🙂
Julia says
If it were up to me, we’d skip winter and have summer alllllll the time..I just can’t get enough of the warm weather and the patio drinking!
Basically, I’m in love with this granola! Banana bread?! YUM…dark chocolate for breakfast?! I’m so on board! I need a hefty volume of this in my life!
The Frosted Vegan says
Yes yes yes! I agree, summer for LIFE
terismyth says
OMG! You read my mind. I’ve had “make granola” on my to do list for the past two weeks or so. I’ve never heard of adding bananas to granola recipe before. I would imagine we could also add more almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries too! I think my husband would love this one minus the chocolate chunks (he isn’t a chocolate fan).
Thanks for the great share and for inspiring me to bake again!
The Frosted Vegan says
Oh man, then you can just keep the chocolate all to yourself!
Annaliese says
Sounds super tasty! And yeah…too soon for pumpkin….just too soon.
The Frosted Vegan says
I’m just not ready!
onceuponarecipe says
I am SO into homemade granola, and I love trying out new recipes. You had me at dark chocolate!
The Frosted Vegan says
I know, right?! Homemade granola is the BEST.
thebrickkitchen says
Ooh this looks amazing! I love the idea of using bananas in the granola coating, and when is dark chocolate not a good thing?! So saving to make, and glad you finally got a recipe to work out as you have envisaged – I know the feeling x
The Frosted Vegan says
It feels so so good to finally have it work! Also, dark chocolate= always a good idea! Enjoy! xo
Lauren Gaskill | Making Life Sweet says
I’m holding onto to summer for dear life! But I’m afraid our warmest days are behind us now. Praying for a mild winter in Minnesnowta this year. Worse case scenario, we have delicious granola like this and a cup of coffee to keep us warm!
The Frosted Vegan says
Haha, I love that you call it Minnesnowta! I actually visited MN over the summer and LOVED it, but I’m sure it’s a different story during the winter 🙂 Coffee and granola are always the best solution, right?
Jason says
It just came out of my over and it looks, smells, and tastes amazing! Thanks for posting.
The Frosted Vegan says
Great! Hope you enjoy it Jason!
Jill Roberts says
I had never tried dark chocolate banana bread granola. But after reading your blog and seeing the snap of the majestic food, I tried. I found your post from Pinterest! Thanks for sharing, Abby!
karamathys says
These dark chocolate banana bread granola look delicious, I just want to devour it off the screen! Thanks for sharing, Abby!
Heart of a Baker says
I hope you love it! xo
Rimmy says
This is definitely a great way to start the year! I must have chocolate banana granola in my life! It sounds fantastic!
Susan Dubose says
This was probably the best granola I have ever made! And the house smelled amazing while it baked. I will definitely be making this again
Richard Tunner says
This granola is on repeat in our house! Love it!
Anthony Allen says
Granola is just the best! This chocolate banana combination looks heavenly!
Whits@amusebouche says
This was probably the best granola I have ever made! And the house smelled amazing while it baked. I will definitely be making this again
★★★★★
Sophie Anderson says
This granola looks so so good, crunchy & flavor packed!!Yummy!!
★★★★★
Malissa says
This is the second time I have made this recipe. I had all the exact ingredients this time (did not have flaxseed the first go round). It was yummy the first time but even better now. I did use an extra large banana. I find this recipe to be highly addictive!
★★★★★
Sophie Anderson says
This granola deserves 6 out of 5 stars! It is so delicious, and makes the house smell so cozy. I have given it away in mason jars as gifts and it is always a crowd pleaser!
★★★★★
Lori says
Loved this!! Paired it with the homemade almond milk (also from your site) and it was just fantastic!! Thanks!
★★★★★
Beks says
OMG, Girl! This granola looks like da bomb dot com!
★★★★★
Edna says
Very interesting post. This is my first-time visit here. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion.I was looking for Food & travel Blogs and found your post thanks for the Amazing content post!
Amber says
Cherished this!! Matched it with the custom made almond milk (additionally from your site) and it was simply fabulous!! I have parted with it in artisan jolts as endowments and it is constantly a group pleaser! Much appreciated!
★★★★★