Homemade Tropical Banana-Orange Vegan Granola Recipe

Even though health-minded, “all-natural” people are sometimes called “crunchy” or “granola”, I’ll admit that I’ve never made my own homemade vegan granola before until recently.

I just thought that it was too much of a hassle, or I’d always miss an important ingredient in my pantry if I came across an interesting-looking recipe.

Then the other day I decided to give it a try with this tropical granola recipe – and I was pleasantly surprised with how great it came out!

I’m calling this “tropical granola” because of its bright (but not overbearing) orange flavor that comes from fresh orange juice and orange zest.

Add in dried pineapple, apricot chunks and optional shredded coconut, and you just might feel the rays of warm tropical sunshine on your face – who wouldn’t love that on a cold December day? 😉

Slivered almonds and pumpkin seeds add a nice crunch while boosting the nutrition. I love a bowl of this granola in the morning with cashew yogurt or almond milk and some sliced bananas:

While most granola recipes I’ve seen online call for a liquid sweetener (maple or agave syrup, etc.) and quite a bit of oil, this recipe is sweetened with a whole-food mixture of dates and bananas, plus it can be made oil-free by skipping the optional tablespoon of coconut oil.

I don’t usually like to pat myself on the back, but I have to say that this tasted better (and definitely fresher) than the expensive store-bought granola. Even Rob, who’s not usually big on stuff like this, went for seconds 🙂

To sum this up: A healthy, easy to make, affordable, and delicious breakfast or a quick snack during the day? Sign me up!

Note: To make this batch of tropical granola, I used slivered almonds and dried apricots sent to me by GourmetNutsAndDriedfruit.com. I was impressed with the flavor and quality of their products, and will be using them in creating future recipes.

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Yield: 5 cups

Homemade Vegan Granola with Bananas and Oranges

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This healthy homemade vegan granola recipe is naturally sweetened with bananas and dates, and gets a nice tropical flavor infusion from oranges. For oil-free version, skip coconut oil. For gluten-free, use certified gluten-free oats. Dairy free, egg free, soy free, refined sugar free.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 cups old-fashioned oats - for gluten free use certified GF oats
• 1 cup chopped dates (about 8 large Medjool dates)
• 1 ripe banana
• zest of 1 orange
• 4 Tbsp fresh orange juice
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil (omit for oil-free)

Mix-ins - to make 2 cups total:

• Slivered almonds
• Raw pumpkin seeds
• Chopped dried unsulfured apricots
• Chopped dried pineapple

Optional mix-ins - add after the granola is baked and cooled:

• Shredded coconut flakes
• Dairy-free mini chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325° F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Soak chopped dates in boiling hot water for 10-15 minutes, then drain (reserve the liquid) and add to a blender along with banana, orange zest, orange juice, and coconut oil (if using). Blend until the mixture is smooth, scraping down the sides. If the mixture is too dry, add 1-2 Tbsp of date soaking liquid - be careful not to add too much!
3. In a large bowl, combine oats with the mix-ins. Stir in the blended banana-date mixture. Working with your hands, mix the raw granola until the liquid mixture evenly covers the dry ingredients.
4. Spread the raw granola evenly onto two parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the granola reaches a golden color, carefully mixing every 10-15 minutes. The granola will get crispier as it cools.
5. If using optional mix-ins, add them once the granola is cool.
6. Store in an airtight container for 5-7 days.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you make a purchase through affiliate links on my blog, I receive a very small commission that helps me run this blog, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

• 
  KitchenAid Classic Set of 3 Mixing Bowls
• 
  Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender, 48 oz. Container
• 
  AirBake Insulated Cookie Sheets, 2 Pc Set, 16 x 14 in

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1/2 cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 260Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 28mgCarbohydrates: 44gFiber: 7gSugar: 19gProtein: 6g

Please note that the provided nutritional information data is approximate.

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Alina Zavatsky - Vegan Runner Eats

Alina Zavatsky is a vegan of 11+ years, a passionate blogger, a YouTuber, and a mom. She helps new vegans and their families navigate a vegan diet and lifestyle in a sustainable and enjoyable way. This fall, she will be releasing a new vegan meal planning app designed to make following a vegan diet a breeze for everyone.

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