Chocolate Banana Granola

Ingredients

Making this homemade banana chocolate granola recipe is very easy, all you need are a few basic ingredients.

For the full ingredient measurements, scroll down to view the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

• Bananas, use very ripe banana with brown spots for a sweet flavor and creamy texture.
• Peanut butter, all natural and you can use crunchy or smooth.
• Maple syrup, or other liquid sweetener like agave for vegan granola.
• Cocoa powder, unsweetened and good quality for a rich chocolate flavor.
• Oats, use rolled, old fashion oats for a courser texture and crunch.
• Almonds, chopped or other nuts like pecans, walnuts or hazelnuts.
• Cinnamon, a little warming cinnamon goes so well with the banana and cholalote flavor.
• Salt, just a little salt to balance all the flavours and sweetness from the bananas.
• Coconut chips, unsweetened, this is optional but ads a great crunch and flavor to this chocolate granola.

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Making this chocolate banana granola recipe is easy and fast.

For the full written instructions, see the recipe card at the bottom.

1. Preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mash the bananas in a large mixing bowl. Add the maple syrup, peanut butter and cocoa powder. Mix well so there are no lumps left of the cocoa powder.
3. Add the oats, chopped almonds, cinnamon and pinch of salt. Stir well to combine and spread out in one even layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
4. Gently stir the granola 2 times during baking. At the end of the baking time, check the granola often so it doesn’t burn.
5. Remove from the oven and stir in the optional coconut.

Substitutions and variations

• Nuts – This healthy chocolate granola is studded with crunchy almonds, but other nuts can also be used. Pecans or walnuts also are great options. For an allergy friendly granola use sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds. 
• Ad-ins – When the granola is baked and cooled down, I have added some coconut flakes. Other great options are, chocolate chips or dried banana slices other dried fruit tastes great.
• Gluten-free – Oats are naturally gluten-free, but can contain traces of gluten. To ensure this granola recipe is gluten-free, only use certified gluten-free oats. 

Storage

Store this chocolate banana granola in an airtight container in room temperature for up to 1 week. It might get a little softer when stored because of the banana, but still tastes just as great!

This homemade granola can also be frozen for around 2-3 months. Add the cooled granola to a freezer safe ziplock bag and push out as much air as possible.

When ready to eat, take out the frozen granola and let it defrost in room temperature. Once granola has been frozen and defrosted, it won’t have the same crunchy as when freshly made. To crisp it up again, Spread the granola out on a baking sheet and bake at 160 C (325F) for a few minutes until it is crunchy again. Be careful not to burn the granola, it just needs to dry.