Friday, May 11, 2012

Banana Split Granola

 

Banana Split Granola

Banana Split Granola, by Katrina, Baking and Boys!

I think this is right up there as one of my favorite granola creations.  And yes, I know, I think I say that with all of them.   This one is so good just as a snack by the handfuls.  It’s almost gone and I’ve yet to put it on yogurt or have it with milk.  But I’m sure it would be fantastic like that, too.

Have you seen all the freeze dried fruit that is out there?  I like freeze dried much more than just dried fruit.  Love the crunchier, lighter texture.  I’ve made a dark chocolate raspberry granola with freeze dried raspberries.  I’ve also put them in Raspberry Chocolate Chip Cookies.  I have a few family members who LOVE those chocolate chip cookies with the raspberries added.  I think they are great, too.  And while Kevin doesn’t like fruit with chocolate things, he’ll snitch a cookie or two when I make them with the raspberries and I’m pretty sure he secretly likes them. ;)

You can get small bags of freeze dried apples, pears, and a combo of bananas and strawberries.  The boys like all of those, too.  They prefer the apples and pears though, so when I recently bought a big box of the individual bags at Costco, a number of the banana/strawberry ones sat in the pantry not getting eaten.  It hit me one day recently to put them in granola.  I then decided just bananas and strawberries weren’t enough, so I also added some dried pineapple, some cocoa almonds (love those, too and just recently tried them for the first time), and some chopped dark chocolate.  All of a sudden this Banana Split Granola came to life!

Banana Split Granola, by Katrina, Baking and Boys!

4 cups old fashioned oats

1/4 cup wheat germ

1/4 cup ground flax seeds (meal)

1/2 cup unsweetened grated coconut

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1/3 cup canola oil

1/4 cup agave nectar (or honey)

1/2 cup freeze dried bananas and strawberries

1/3 cup chopped dried pineapple

1/4 cup cocoa-covered almonds, or just plain almonds

1/4 cup chopped dark chocolate (or chocolate chips)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with Silpat or parchment paper.  In a large bowl, combine the oats, wheat germ, flax, coconut, brown sugar and salt.  Stir to combine.  In a medium sized, microwaveable bowl, combine the oil and agave.  Microwave for 30 seconds.  Add the vanilla and whisk until well combined.  Pour over the oat mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until it is all moist.  Spread the mixture evenly onto the baking sheet and bake for 22 minutes.  Let sit on the baking sheet on a cooling rack until completely cooled.  Break into pieces into a bowl.  Add the dried fruit, almonds and chocolate and mix to combine.  Store in an airtight container after trying not to eat too much of it at once. ;)

Homemade Banana Split GranolaGet a bite of it with a banana, a strawberry, a piece of pineapple, an almond, a piece of chocolate and some granola—YUM!  I will be making this again very soon!

12 comments:

Lisa said...

What? The banana/strawberry packets are my favorite. They wouldn't last long enough in my house for me to put them into granola, although it sure is one yummy idea.

Lisa Ernst said...

Love that you've added the chocolate almonds along with the chocolate pieces. This looks like a real treat!

Megan's Cookin' said...

I like that freeze dried fruit too especially the pineapple. What a great idea to put them in granola. I think I would love a cc cookie with freeze dried raspberries too!

Valerie said...

Looks so good and I love the color. Sounds like something I'll have to make for hiking snacks.

Sue @ Cakeballs, cookies and more said...

oh I have to look for that fruit, my kid used to love the cheerios with the berries in them.

Anonymous said...

I need to try freeze dried fruit. Your granola looks delicious!

Anonymous said...

I love homemade granola and this is a perfect recipe for it!
mary x

Flourchild said...

I have a love affair with granola...yum! It looks great!

Aly ~ Cooking In Stilettos said...

I love this idea!!!! Might have to make a run to Costco this week :)

Jen @ Jens Favorite Cookies said...

This looks really delicious! I bet it is great with a spoonful of greek yogurt. I love the idea of adding fruit!

Cindy said...

Why did I not think to put freeze dried fruit in granola. I'm munching on some delicious chewy granola as I write this. I wish it had freeze dried strawberries in it.
Great idea, thanks

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