Banana Bread Granola

Back in the kitchen and the first thing I make is granola, duh.  As I've mentioned previously, I'm pretty terrible about using a recipe when it comes to making granola- I usually just throw whatever is in my pantry into a bowl and taste it before it goes into the oven to make sure I'm happy.  Well folks, today is a brand new day because I finally wrote down a recipe (thank goodness this batch turned out delicious)!

Banana Bread Granola (vegan, gluten free, no oil, no refined sugar)

Wet ingredients:

- 3-4 very ripe bananas (the browner, the better!)

- 2 TBSP coconut butter 

- 1 TBSP walnut butter (or any other type of nut butter, or more coconut butter)

- 1/4 cup coconut sugar

- 2 tsp cinnamon 

- pinch of salt

Dry ingredients:

- 2 cups oats (gluten free, if desired)

- 1 cup buckwheat, soaked, rinsed, and dried in a low oven or dehydrator

- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed

- 5 chopped dates

- 1 cup flaked coconut

- Optional mix-ins: chocolate chips, chopped nuts, seeds

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a cookie sheet or roasting pan with parchment paper.

Add the wet ingredients to a high speed blender or food processor and process until smooth.  Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  Add wet to dry and stir until well combined, addin optional mix-ins if desired.  Spread onto lined pan and cook for about 30 minutes (longer if you like a crunchier granola).  Note: granola will continue to harder as it cools, so if it still feels a bit soft when you take it out of the oven, do not fret! 

Granola gets a bad rap for being an "unhealthy health food", which can be true if you eat many store bought versions, but not this kind! With only natural sugars from the fruit and coconut sugar, and no unhealthy oils, this mix not only tastes good but makes you feel good too!

I made half my batch with chocolate chips and oooooh my it was so good! More like a dessert but hey, you only live once.