Chocolate Banana Granola (GF + Vegan)
This Chocolate Banana Granola is super chocolatey with mashed banana and banana chips! This gluten-free and vegan granola makes a super addictive snack or breakfast.
Happy New Year 🎉 welcome to 2016! I know I’m a little late, but I thought we could all use a few days off from the real world to let 2016 settle in, am I right? My year started a little differently than expected, with a quiet night at home in San Diego instead of in the mountains like I had planned – but, hanging out with my dog and gazing outside to see the ocean, I can’t really complain.
I can confidently say I haven’t had a bad moment this year and I’m going to hold on to that for as long as I can. I have a good feeling about 2016 :) and how can I not, when the first thing I baked of the year was this chocolate banana granola?
I made this granola for my aunt, who I promise granola every time I’m home and don’t follow through on nearly enough, but it was surprisingly difficult getting it bagged and out the door after my dad tried it. I literally had to remove the pan from his hands, but that wasn’t before a ton had already been devoured.
I wasn’t much better – I was tasting it right out of the oven and kept grabbing pieces whenever I walked by as it cooled. It’s pretty irresistible. Granola is the one thing I pretty much constantly have in my pantry, and it’s rare for me to make the same granola twice – hence the eight granola recipes I already have posted. Granola, fruit, and Greek yogurt is my breakfast every. single. day. because I don’t like eggs (except in cakes + brownies) so my options are limited.
This is definitely one of my favorite granolas I’ve made, but I also got nutso for anything with banana and/or chocolate. The dry ingredients I used are oats, flaked coconut (not shredded), cashews, pecans, sliced almonds, unsweetened banana chips, and cocoa powder! You could totally use whatever nuts are your favorites – I just used what I had in the house.
The dry ingredients are coated in a mixture of coconut oil, banana, vanilla extract, and honey and then baked low and slow for an hour. After it comes out of the oven, I sprinkled on chocolate chips, let them melt, and stirred them in. This made these big ole granola clusters all held together by chocolate. I could not stop snacking on the warm, chocolatey granola…and subsequently ended up with chocolate all over my face. You’d be surprised at how much that happens.
Thankfully, the recipients also loved the granola, and that’s coming from my banana-hating cousin and my aunt who isn’t the hugest fan of chocolate…and my uncle’s praise? This shit is ridiculous. Prepare to snack all day long!
I’m seriously considering making another batch tonight. You should definitely do the same. Enjoy!
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest
Remember to #bakerita if you try the recipe!
PrintChocolate Banana Granola (GF + Vegan)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 70 minutes
- Yield: 6 cups 1x
- Category: Breakfast
Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten-free rolled oats
- 1 cup flaked coconut
- ½ cup pecans (chopped)
- ½ cup cashews (chopped)
- ½ cup sliced almonds
- 1 cup unsweetened banana chips (lightly crushed)
- ¼ cup coconut oil (melted)
- 1 ripe banana (mashed (about 1/3–1/2 cup))
- ⅓ cup maple syrup (or honey, if you’re not vegan)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- ½ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300ºF. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper and grease with coconut oil.
- In a large bowl, stir together the oats, coconut flakes, nuts, and banana chips. In a separate bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, banana, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and cocoa powder.
- Pour the liquids over the dry ingredients and mix until all of the mixture is moistened.
- Spread it on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 1 hour, stirring every fifteen minutes to prevent burning and get it all evenly browed.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle chocolate chips on top while it’s still warm. Let the chocolate chips melt, and then stir to combine. Let cool completely.
- Serve as a snack or as a topping for ice cream or yogurt! Store in a sealed jar or bag for up to a month.
How could the recipients not love this granola?! It’s a perfect combination of everything yummy! So happy your year is off to a great start! Wishing you continued loveliness in the new year, my friend!
This is definitely a great way to start the year! I must have chocolate banana granola in my life! It sounds fantastic!
Happy New Year, doll! So glad you had a fabulous 2015 and a relaxing New Years Eve! I didn’t have a great 2015, but I am feeling exactly like you about 2016 – I predict good things! I know I can’t wait to see what comes out of your kitchen this year! This granola is a fabulous start! I am addicted to granola and LOVE your addition of banana and banana chips! LOVE! Cheers, girlfriend!
Granola is just the best! This chocolate banana combination looks heavenly!
I love banana chips, I could eat them non-stop! Now add them to the granola, along with the chocolate chips and coconut flakes (which are also my favorites), and you have the best granola ever!
★★★★★
I’m with you on the eggs. The only way I like eggs is if they’re so covered in cheese that you can’t even taste the egg anymore. :) This granola is perfect. I love finding new granola recipes and was just looking for a different one to spice up my yogurt in the morning. Can’t go wrong with chocolate!
This granola looks like the perfect way to start out the year, Rachel! I love the bananas in here, too! I would love to have a giant bowl of this for breakfast!
Coconut, pecans, cashews, and banana chips?! What an awesome flavor combo- pinning!
Happy New Year, Rachel! Sounds like you had a great holiday. :) I love homemade granola and chocolate and banana is one of my favorite combinations! This looks incredible!
Yum, yum, yum! This looks amazing, Rachel! Definitely a great way to start off 2016!! Looking forward to seeing all your yummy recipes this year :)
I love your uncles review!!
Any suggestions for substituting the oats with?
Yummm! I totally want to sprinkle this over my yogurt!
What a perfect way to start off the year! This granola looks so delicious, I love the chocolate and banana combination. I could see myself eating handfuls of this for breakfast ;)
I love all the different granolas you make, Rachel! I really should make it homemade more often. I love the chocolate and banana in this one, I’m totally going to have to try it! :)
I need this granola in my life! The chocolate, the banana… it sounds absolutely perfect!
Those photos are stunning!
http://www.patagoniamall.com
This recipe looks awesome!! I am not sure how this can be vegan though if you are using honey?
★★★★
Hi Sanmari, I called for maple syrup in the recipe with an option for honey for people who are not strict vegans.
Oh man, I have ZERO control when it comes to homemade granola, so I’m a teensy bit worried that I would end up eating the whole dang pan of this chocolate-y goodness! It looks SO addicting, Rachel! :)
Haha that is exactly what I did! I’m embarrassed as to how fast two batches disappeared :O there’s only a cup or two left of the second batch. Thanks, Sarah!
This granola is everything I cold ever want and more! Its got the crunch factor, the natural sweetness and healthy ingredients!
I am going through a big granola phase and my last batch is almost done. This chocolate banana granola NEED to happen soon!
This looks absolutely delicious!! That chocolate banana combo is epic! x
Happy New Year, Rachel! This granola is the perfect way to start the new year! Granola is my ultimate weakness and I love the flavors you packed in this one! I don’t blame your dad, I wouldn’t want to let go of the pan either :)
★★★★★
Fresh, homemade granola is such a treat. My mouth is watering looking at this batch of yours.
Happy New Year!!
Happy New Year Rachel! This granola looks amazing, banana and chocolate are so great together!
★★★★★
OMG, Girl! This granola looks like da bomb dot com!
lol! I love that you haven’t had a bad moment of 2016 yet! Actually, neither have I! Let’s continue that all year?! This granola looks amazing Rachel!
★★★★★
Once I realized I hadn’t yet had a bad moment, I’ve been determined to keep it up! Here’s to an awesome 2016! Thanks Annie :)
This granola looks so so good, crunchy & flavor packed!!Yummy!!
★★★★★
Woah eight granola recipes – you are the granola queen! This one looks especially delicious! Love that it has a few chocolate chip in their for good measure as well! ;)
ooooh I would not be able to resist thuis granola either! It def. looks sooo addictive!
★★★★★
Wow – this is dangerously good! I’ve been making granola for years, but always the same! My sister sent me the link for this because I was looking for a way to use up ripe bananas other than banana bread/muffins. I made it this AM, with help from my three year old, and used cacao instead of cocoa, left out the chips (banana and choc), used just cashews for nuts, and added some wheat germ and quinoa flakes. And I had to force myself to exercise control and put it in a jar in the cupboard – so good!
I’m so thrilled to hear you enjoyed this an alternative to the usual banana bread :) I totally understand on having to put it away because you can’t stop snacking – I do that too! Enjoy, Dorothy :)