The easiest low sugar oil free banana bread granola made from only 6 ingredients that are gluten free, vegan, and can be nut free!

bowl of oil free granola with banana chunks

I used to really not be into granola. Like I thought it was meh, okay, not great. I could take it or leave it.

But recently, I decided to do some experimenting with making my own, and let me tell you: the next time I have overripe bananas, I’m making this over banana bread.

I’m not even joking, and that’s saying something because my Paleo vegan banana bread is a staple in The Banana Diaries kitchen!

bowl of banana bread granola

Made with only 6 ingredients (two of which are only flavor enhancers, a.k.a. vanilla extract and sea salt), and ready in under 30 minutes, this granola is the ultimate healthy meal prep recipe!

A healthier, low sugar and oil free granola

Not that there’s anything wrong with using oil or maple syrup, but I wanted to create something out of the ordinary for you that’s even simpler than most granola recipes.

You see, this granola is entirely low sugar (only sweetened with one banana!) and completely oil free.

close up of granola clusters

But how do you get the crunchy clusters then?!

Well, I decided to swap in peanut butter in lieu of oil (my favorite for any granola recipe being coconut oil). This is because, while I personally have no qualms about using oil, I wanted this granola to have some added protein.

After all, this is an entirely vegan oil free granola, which I would assume you’re enjoying at breakfast (like myself), and I’ve lately been on a mission of showing people that eating plant based can contain lots of protein.

hand pouring coconut milk into granola bowl

So what’re the stats and highlights of this granola?

  • It’s low fat (only uses 1/4 cup of peanut butter, which contains protein), so those that are eating in that respect can enjoy this recipe
  • This granola is only sweetened with a banana, which means there’s added fiber and lots of yummy potassium
  • There’s only 6 ingredients required, and two of them are simply flavor enhancers (sea salt and vanilla!)
  • It takes all of 35 minutes total to make this granola, making it the easiest of healthy meal prep breakfasts
  • One serving of this granola (1/3 cup) contains almost 6 grams of protein, which I know doesn’t sound like a lot, but when you compare it to the store bought counterparts, it’s more than double (yes, even the “healthier” brands!). Pair it with some pea milk (like I do) and a scoop of pea protein, and you’re already at 20 grams of protein.
overhead of granola bowl

So yes, while using those extra ripe bananas is incredibly perfect for a homemade Paleo vegan banana bread (I won’t tell you not to make it, it’s one of my faves!), I highly recommend you give this oil free granola a go!

How to make banana bread granola

Like I said before, we’re straying from the norm of using oil and an added sugar, like coconut sugar, cane sugar, or maple syrup.

granola on baking sheet

Instead, you’ll need to gather these ingredients (which are actually arguably cheaper!):

  • Oats
  • Banana
  • Peanut Butter
  • The Flavor Enhancers: cinnamon, vanilla, and sea salt

That is * literally * all you need. Oh, and then of course chocolate chunks, because I love having chocolate first thing in the morning ha!

A quick note for my allergy friends: you can still make a banana bread granola without the peanut butter! Just swap in SunButter or coconut butter in lieu of nuts!

wooden spoon with granola

Now, you’re going to laugh at how easy this granola recipe is. The remaining steps take only 3-4 minutes, maybeee 5, then you just need to bake!

  1. First, mash the banana into a puree.
  2. Add in the remaining ingredients, except for the oats and chocolate chunks.
  3. Make sure the banana bater is thick and consistent. Then fold in the oats until they’re evenly coated. Do not add in the chunks just yet or else they’ll melt in the oven!
  4. Spread the oat batter evenly onto a baking sheet and place into the oven to bake for 25-30 minutes, or until lightly golden and crispy.
  5. Remove from the oven and let cool before adding in the chocolate chunks.

And that’s it! I highly recommend once your granola has come to room temperature to just pop it into the fridge before adding the chocolate because you don’t want the chocolate to melt right away!

bowl with granola

My favorite ways to enjoy this easy homemade granola

So now we’ve gotten to the best part of this recipe, and that’s how are you going to enjoy this banana bread granola?!

Personally, I’ve been enjoying these crunchy oil free granola clusters with a splash of pea milk (I love Ripple) and a scoop of pea protein. Then I top with a few blueberries!

bowl with banana bread granola

Guess how much protein in that one brekkie? 22 grams. Insane, right!?

More delicious ways to include this granola in your morning routine include:

  • Sprinkling into a dairy free yogurt (my fave is Forager Project Cashew yogurt) parfait with more bananas and blueberries (or any favorite treat!)
  • As a topping on chocolate or vanilla chia pudding
  • Coat apple slices with a few chunks for an easy on the go snack
  • Add a few more add-ins, like prunes, figs, raisins, more nuts, and seeds for an on the go easy trail mix!
overhead of bowl with oats

I hope you love this easy homemade banana bread granola recipe as much as I do! If you make it, let me know down below in the comments section how it went (as well as giving it a rating so others can find this!).

As always, I absolutely love to see and share your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so be sure to tag me there.

Happy granola crunching!

bowl with banana bread oil free granola cloth and glass

More Healthy Vegan Breakfasts:

The Ultimate Overnight Oats (Over 30 grams of Plant Based Protein!)

Paleo Vegan Sweet Potato Waffles

Paleo Vegan Sweet Potato Bowls

Grain Free Vegan Hot Cereal

Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

Vegan Breakfast Burritos

Want to save this recipe for later? Add it to your favorite recipe board on Pinterest!

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bowl of oil free oat clusters with banana chunks

Homemade Banana Bread Granola (Oil Free, Gluten Free)

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 5 reviews
  • Author: thebananadiaries
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 25
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Description

The easiest low sugar oil free banana bread granola made from only 6 ingredients that are gluten free, vegan, and can be nut free!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups gluten free oats
  • 1/4 cup peanut butter (or SunButter or coconut butter if nut free)
  • 1 ripe banana
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, mash the banana until it’s a puree.
  3. Add in the peanut butter, vanilla extract, and sea salt, and mix together until well combined.
  4. Add in the oats and mix the granola until all of the oats are coated in the wet ingredients. Do not add in the chocolate chunks just yet (we need to bake the granola first).
  5. Spread the granola evenly onto the baking sheet and place into the oven to bake for 25-30 minutes (until aromatic and slightly crispy).
  6. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before adding in the chocolate chips. Once the granola is cool, add in the chocolate chips and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or room temperature for up to a week.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/3 cup granola
  • Calories: 184
  • Sugar: 3.6 g
  • Sodium: 239.8 mg
  • Fat: 5.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 25 g
  • Fiber: 3.7 g
  • Protein: 5.9 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
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