Crunchy Banana Granola

Since I started eating healthily granola has been a staple in my diet. And I first I just got mine from the local supermarket. I know what you’re thinking… Georgina, that is loaded with sugar… and I know that now but back then I lived off Special K and Bran Flakes… A LOT has changed.

But once my Mum and I realised that my new granola wasn’t quite as healthy as we thought we began making our own. Since that time we have been through quite a few granola recipes but out of all of them this one is our favourite. It is totally free from refined sugar and contains only healthy fats. It is chewy and crunchy and tastes banana-ry (totally not a word) and delicious. It doesn’t contain many ingredients either which makes it super easy to make (great because once you have tried this you will make it a lot!)

Ingredients:

Wet:

1 and ½ cup sliced overripe banana

3 tbsp coconut oil (melted)

3 tbsp honey/ pure maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

Dry:

3 cups oats

½ cup almonds (roughly chopped) (optional – just adds another dimension/ flavour but still great without)

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and line a large baking tray with greaseproof paper.

Mash the bananas really well and then place into a large mixing bowl with the honey (or maple syrup), vanilla extract and coconut oil. Mix well.

Add the oats (and almonds if using) to the bowl and mix until fully combined. (Using your hands here to combine everything works really well!)

Empty the mixture onto the baking tray, pressing it together until it forms almost a large pancake (I know this is a strange method but trust me!!) And place into the oven.

Allow to cook for 15 minutes, until the edges become lightly browned, then remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes.

Begin to break the ‘pancake’ apart into small chunks – these will form your granola chunks.

Once you have broken up the whole mix pop back into the oven for 25-30 minutes, tossing the granola every now and then. It should be a golden brown.

Allow to cool and then devour with everything! (Fruit, porridge, (n)ice cream… you name it!)