Banana Bread Granola

Lightly sweetened with maple syrup and the natural sugars of banana! It also includes pecans, which are my absolute favorite. Although this granola leans more on the soft (rather than crispy) side, it's a delicious way to start the day as a bowl of cereal or on top of yogurt!

Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 medium or small overripe bananas

• 3 cups old-fashioned oatmeal

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• 2 Tbsp ground flaxseed (optional)

• 1/4 - 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup

• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 300°F.

• Mash bananas in a medium-sized bowl. Add in the rest of the ingredients and mix well until all is coated. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup maple syrup, depending on your sweetness preference.

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay out granola in a 1/2 inch layer all over the paper.

• Bake for 40 minutes, gently mixing halfway through.

• Let cool 1 hour before storing.

• Store in a refrigerator up to 1 week, or freezer up to 6 weeks.

• Makes about 4 cups.

Your bananas can be this ripe or even riper. I've made this with bananas that are entirely black.

After mashing the bananas

After adding the rest of the ingredients.

After mixing all the ingredients together.

Laying out on the baking sheet and before baking.

After baking. Beautiful!