Vegan Cashew Granola with Banana Chips, Cranberries and Cacao Nibs | www.floatingkitchen.net

Vegan Cashew Granola with Banana Chips, Cranberries and Cacao Nibs

This post was originally published here February 25, 2015. I’ve adjusted the recipe slightly. And I’ve updated the text and photographs to reflect those changes. This vegan, gluten-free granola is great for breakfast or snacking. I hope you try it out!

These first few days of January are some of my favorite days of the entire year. After two months of Holiday preparations, heavy work load and general overindulgence, it’s nice to bask in the stillness and quiet of the new year.

One thing I always do this time of year is clean and re-organize my kitchen pantry. It’s not based on any kind of resolution, per se. Just something that I like to consistently do. As you can imagine, I have a lot of food around here. And it can get a little overwhelming and unruly!

Now, I certainly don’t consider this Vegan Cashew Granola with Banana Chips, Cranberries and Cacao Nibs to be an “afterthought” recipe. But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that it’s conception was indeed brought on by a lot of “what should I do with this half eaten/partially torn bag/questionable jar of XYZ”.

Vegan Cashew Granola with Banana Chips, Cranberries and Cacao Nibs | www.floatingkitchen.net

So it’s a little of this. And a little of that. But you know, that’s exactly how I like my granola to be anyways. A few nuts, some dried fruit and a little bit of chocolate (of course!). It’s hard to pick a bad combination.

I like using this Vegan Cashew Granola with Banana Chips, Cranberries and Cacao Nibs to top my yogurt. And it’s good with milk, too. If you’re looking for more of a “snacking granola” that you can eat straight out of the jar, then I highly recommend trying my Super Chunky Maple Pecan Quinoa Granola. It’s got big pieces that you can really grab on to!

Cheers,

Liz

Vegan Cashew Granola with Banana Chips, Cranberries and Cacao Nibs

Vegan Cashew Granola with Banana Chips, Cranberries and Cacao Nibs

At a Glance:
Yield: Makes about 6 cups
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 1 cup unsalted cashews
  • 1/4 cup cacao nibs
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup cashew butter
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
  • 1 cup banana chips
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, stir together the oats, cashews, cacao nibs and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a medium saucepan over low-medium heat, stir together the cashew butter, maple syrup and coconut oil. Continue stirring until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Then remove the saucepan from the heat and pour this liquid mixture over the dry ingredients. Stir until the dry ingredients are well coated and moistened.
  4. Spread the mixture out onto your prepared baking sheet. Transfer to your pre-heated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Remove the baking sheet from your oven and let the granola cool to room temperature. Once cooled, stir in the banana chips and dried cranberries.
  5. The granola can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.

66 comments on “Vegan Cashew Granola with Banana Chips, Cranberries and Cacao Nibs”

  1. I hope you have a great time, Liz! This granola looks like the perfect snack to be munchin’ on. Love the combination of cashews and chocolate!

  2. Liz, oh my gawd, so fun!!! what a great group!!! and love this granola . . can’t go wrong with homemade granola, yo! and I love Theo Chocolates (I had the hook-up when I was living in Seattle!)

    • I know. Theo Chocolate is my favorite. I used to live less than 1 mile from the factory. It was a favorite pit stop (THE SAMPLES!). Luckily you can pretty much find it everywhere now.

  3. Um, this granola, major. See you soon!!! xoxo

  4. This is perfect snack/travel food, Liz. Have a great trip!!

  5. Omg…yummy, yummy, yummy in my tummy tummy tummy! I love granola. Sometimes I make a batch for the week and eat it all right after I make it. #oops. And I am pretty sure when you said “Erin” was going with you on this trip…you meant Erin Weber…..me….did you forget to tell me? hhahaha! Have fun!!!

  6. Still can’t believe you’re going on such a fabulous trip. Ugh, jealous! Take so many pictures. Have fun! XO

  7. Oh my gosh, Liz, this sounds so good! And I’m ALWAYS looking for healthy, satisfying snacks that I can take on the plane. This is now pinned to my new board (Leaving on a Jet Plane), inspired by your words/recipe. So thanks for that!! And have a blast on your vacay! Skiing + friends + food/drinks = the best of everything in life.

  8. I second what Sarah said, so awesome and I’m totalllllly jealous! Have so much fun and I can’t wait to see pictures! Next time you are up for a getaway..I’m IN!

  9. Have a wonderful trip and enjoy your down time! Loving this granola!

  10. Your girls weekend sounds so fun! Utah is just beautiful this time of year. And they have some good snow! This granola looks perfect : )

  11. OMG have soooooo much fun! I love Utah, I love Park City, and I LOVE LOVE Deer Valley. Enjoy yourself! P.S. This granola looks amazing! xo

  12. Mmm! Cashews are my absolute favorite. I could eat them every. single. day!

  13. Soooooo you are bringing granola this weekend right? Can’t wait to see you!

  14. Oh my gosh, what a great group of ladies!! You guys are going to have a blast!!!!!

  15. This granola recipe sounds fantastic! Plus granola is so great to adjust to your own tastes. Yum!

  16. Oh my gosh your trip sounds awesome!! Have lots of fun!! and these need to come on the plane with me too 🙂

  17. I’m so ready for this weekend and to finally meet you. Plus you are bringing goodies.

  18. Your getaway sounds like a blast, and this is one of the best snacks ever! Delicious sounding granola. 🙂

  19. Yesssss, hanger is the WURST especially on a flight!! I’m so totally all for a batch of this.

    I can’t wait to see you, this is going to be such a great time!!

  20. This will be the perfect in-air snack. I’m so jealous right now. Park City is amazing. Have fun!

  21. WooHoo!!! A girls getaway! Nothing better! Good thing you whipped up some granola … so you can keep your energy levels up for all those shenanigans! This granola, Liz!!! The combination of chocolate, cocoa nibs, cashews and banana chips sounds sooooo delicious! I could use some right now!

    Have a fabulous trip! Sounds like a blast!

  22. Cashews are criminally underrated. Have a great trip 🙂

  23. I love to bring homemade snacks too! This granola will be perfect- and healthy! Have a great trip!

  24. What a great group! Have fun!!! And this granola looks incredible…love to know that you’re a fellow lover of Theo chocolate. My absolute favorite is the 85%

    • Thanks, Marissa! And yes, Theo is my FAVORITE. I used to live very close to the factory. It was a frequent stop for me!

  25. Hooray, sounds like such a fun trip–have a safe and lovely holiday with your gal pals 🙂 And this granola looks DIVINE.

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  27. I am packing this for my next flight!
    Kari
    http://www.sweetteasweetie.com

  28. I’ve been spying all your photos! Looks like you ladies had ooodles of fun!!! You know how much I LOVE granola. Definitely one to keep in my back pocket!

  29. I’m not a fan of being hangry in an airplane (or anywhere either). Granola is my FAVE to take on trips. Yours looks incredible. Hope your ski trip was a blast!

  30. I hope you guys had an awesome time, Liz!! It looks like you guys ate lots of amazing food, especially those grilled cheese!! I need to get better at making my own snacks to take with me when I travel because I have a bad habit of eating gas station snacks!

  31. Homemade snacks are definitely the way to go when traveling! This granola looks awesome!

    Hope you had a fantastic trip! Sounds like such a fun time!

  32. Hope you had a great trip! I am also very vulnerable to becoming hangry…and this granola looks like the perfect solution! I love love love the chocolate/cashew combo, it looks amazing!

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  35. Delicious update Liz! I’m loving the cashew butter here… and those crunchy bananas! I LOL about the food getting unruly! Same… my freezer is too full. I’ve gotta get it under control! Happy New Year to youuuu!

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