I would like to start this post with a question to all of my listeners: what do you do when you only have one ripe banana?
This happens to me every time I buy bananas, and usually I just make my regular oatmeal (favorite thing ever). But today I thought I would shake things up a bit by making granola.
I seriously cannot believe I didn’t think of this sooner! I mean, I love making homemade granola almost as much as I like making different variations of banana bread. Combining these together almost seems too obvious.
But clearly it wasn’t, because it took me a while to think about it. Banana bread and granola sound like they’d go well together, don’t you think?
But can we talk about the banana and pecan combo? I became a huge banana and nut fan when I worked at Tim Hortons in my teenage years that I began combining everything nut-like with bananas ever since.
And while I know pecans are not technically a nut, I am still loving the nice toasty flavor this gives to complement the sweetness of the banana. And the coconut oil! That may be the best part of this granola! It makes your house smell ah-mazing AND gives your granola a slight hint of coconut.
You might be surprised to hear that I made this granola early in the AM. I’m talking like at 8 AM. I just had a huge craving for granola, and I had none in my house. What is a granola addict to do but make her own?
Unfortunately for my boyfriend, the smoke alarm went off when the granola was done. For some reason, every time I open the oven even though NOTHING is burning the smoke detector goes off. Or maybe it was a good thing that it woke him up. Then he could enjoy this granola when it’s fresh.
I think this will be my breakfast for the next month!
Banana Bread Granola
Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup pecans
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 Tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp chia seeds
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 3 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 medium ripe banana, mashed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together the oats, pecans, salt, cinnamon and chia seeds.
- In a small saucepan over medium low heat, warm the coconut oil, brown sugar, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Once liquidy, remove from the heat and whisk in banana and mix until fully combined. Pour over the dry ingredients and mix well.
- Spread the mixture evenly onto one or two baking sheets and bake in the preheated oven for 23-28 minutes.
- If you want a less clumpy granola, toss when the granola is halfway done.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely on the baking sheet. Store in an airtight container.
Oh yum that sounds awesome! I love homemade granola, this flavor looks good to me 🙂
I like the idea of homemade granola.
This looks delicious Cathleen, love granola. My kids used to say I cooked by smoke alarm.
I seriously cannot believe I didn't EVER think of this – this just sounds fabulous – And I bet it smells heavenly!
It sounds and looks heavenly!
Great recipe! I'll have to buy coconut oil to try this out. We eat granola just about everyday. If I don't have coconut oil, what do you recommend for another alternative? Thanks!
The coconut oil makes it crisp really nicely, but if you don't have it on hand you could use olive oil instead.
Hi Cathleen,
Isn't it great to enjoy this yummy freshly baked banana bread granola ! Enjoy! Love this healthy brekkie to kick start the day !
Homemade granola is the best! I love that you made banana bread granola! It looks awesome!
Dang girl, look at those delicious banananut clusters of oaty goodness 😀 *jawdrop*
Could definitely do with some of this in the early morning too ^ ^
love the idea of homemade granola bread and with banana it's a winner 😉
OMG no you didn't go there!!! i'm so excited to try this 🙂 Banana bread is my all time favorite!!!! And granola, girl you stole my heart!!
This looks great — I love banana bread and granola.Thanks for sharing. I'm a new food blogger and found you on a link party. I've followed your social sites and hope we can connect on those. Can't wait to read more of your blog. Becky with CookingWithVinyl.com
wow I never thought of making banana bread granola, this is just awesome! Love the recipe!
This sounds wonderful! What an awesome combination of flavors and textures, YUM! Whenever I have one ripe banana, I usually cut it up and throw it in a bag with other cut-up bananas for future smoothies. Not very exciting, I know. This is a MUCH better, more exciting use of a banana. Sounds amazing!
THis looks amazing! I totally love pecans for texture. When I have a ripe banana, I always go for a mug cake 🙂
I had one banana left after making a cake a couple of days ago and I put it on my breakfast cereal. I should have made granola!!
Always happy to see a new granola recipe! This one sounds and looks awesome! Pinned 🙂
Sounds fantastic and a great way to use that last banana left in the fruit bowl!
what a healthy snack,looks yummy!
Homemade granola is the best! I love the banana in this. I try to keep granola on hand to sprinkle on my yogurt- this would be perfect! 🙂
I've never thought of it either! The mix sounds amazing though 😀
I love that you love to make your own granola.
I love nothing more than some granola with a dollop of yogurt in the mornings, but banana bread granola? Holy yes!
Lisa // Sweet 2 Eat Baking
This looks so yummy …love granola !
Yes, the kitchen smells delightful while this is baking! One question – where do you add the brown sugar? I didn’t have brown sugar, so I used coconut sugar. Thank you, and am looking forward to trying this when it is finished baking.
I am so sorry, thank you so much for catching that!! You actually add it in with the maple syrup. I just changed the instructions to reflect that, but I believe it would still be good without the brown sugar!
Thank you for the message! I figured that’s where the sugar was to be added in since that’s where it was listed in the ingredients, but wanted to check. Substituting in coconut sugar worked fine, and the granola turned out well. I also did not have pecans, so I used walnuts and that worked out as well. Thanks again for an easy and delicious recipe!
Yay! I am so glad that worked out for you 🙂