Have you resolved to clean up your nutrition? If so, this granola serves as an easy way to help you meet that goal. It’s naturally sweetened with banana and a touch of optional stevia, and tastes delicious in fruit parfaits, as part of homemade trail mix, or eaten on its own.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup walnut pieces
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 3 tablespoon ground flaxseed
  • 3 packets stevia (optional)
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 1 1/2 cups mashed banana
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup dried cranberries

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. Mix together oats, walnuts, cinnamon, cloves, flaxseed, and stevia, if using, in a large bowl and set aside.
  3. In a small saucepan, melt coconut oil. Add banana and vanilla and stir occasionally over low heat for about 2 minutes.
  4. Pour wet mixture over dry ingredients and stir to combine, trying to coat as many oats as possible. Taste and add a little bit more stevia and/or cinnamon to sweeten, if desired.
  5. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and pour oat mixture onto pan, spreading into an even layer. (The thinner the layer, the faster it will cook.)
  6. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and use a spatula to flip pieces over, breaking them into smaller clusters.
  7. Bake for 20 minutes more. Allow granola to cool. Clusters should firm up and become crunchy.
  8. Transfer granola back to a bowl and stir in cranberries. Store in air-tight containers for up to 4 weeks.