Good day all! Another rainy, cloudy day here in Kingston! But that’s all right, I am armed with my book (go read the Song of Fire and Ice series if you haven’t already, do it!) and DVDs of Smallville. Today is going to be a-okay!
Today I’m going to share my raw granola recipe that I dreamed up a couple weeks ago and first showed you here. This was my first big success with the dehydrator. I honestly could not stop eating this stuff it’s so good, and with no added sugar and no oil, it’s no problem that I couldn’t! This granola doesn’t have any grains either and relies entirely on buckwheat (a psuedograin) and raw nuts and seeds). This means it’s great for those on a grain-free diet and is packed with loads of nutrition! It was perfect on it’s own with almond milk, with berries, on top of smoothies, on top of puddings…basically on top of anything :) You could probably also try baking this, and I’ve left a guess as to what those directions would be at the end. This recipe is very forgiving. It could be modified to suit your tastes or whatever nuts/seeds you have on hand. Just keep the proportions the same and you should be good! 
Raw Banana Granola with No Added Sugar or Oil! (Vegan, Gluten-free, Sugar-free, Raw) The flavour of the banana is very prevalent and combined with the dates this granola is just sweet enough. Lots of crunch from the buckwheat nuts and seeds and loads of clumps, just as granola should have!
- 1/2 cup raw almonds
- 1/2 cup raw walnuts
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
- 1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup pitted medjool dates
- 1 tsp vanilla bean powder (or vanilla extract)
- pinch of sea salt
- 1 banana, mashed
- 8 drops vanilla stevia
- 2 tsp water or more (if needed)
- 3/4 cup buckwheat groats, soaked 1 hour
Pulse the first 8 ingredients in a food processor until desired consistency is reached (add vanilla extract with the banana if not using the powder). I did it until the nuts were chopped fairly small with some larger chunks and the dates were in small pieces. Like this picture: 
Empty the mixture into a large bowl. Mash the banana in a small bowl and mix with the stevia and vanilla extract if using, Add the wet ingredients to the dry and add the buckwheat groats and mix until well combined and sticky. Add the water as needed to get everything full incorporated and coated. Place on teflex or parchment paper lined dehydrator sheets in a thin layer. Dehydrate at 105°F for 3 hours. Carefully flip the granola over. Doing so will break it up a bit but that’s ok, helps create the chunks! Dehydrate for another 9 hours or until dry and crunchy. Alternatively you could try baking it at around 250 for an hour or 350 for around 25-30 min. If anyone does try this please let me know what worked for you!
Serve with fruit, almond milk, or whatever you choose. It’s bound to be tasty. Especially if you eat it with an awesome spoon….
got it for my dad for Christmas. Love it!
I'm submitting this recipe to Allergy Free Wednesdays, Allergy Friendly Fridays and Wellness Weekends and Best Recipes of 2012!
Before I go 2 shout outs and heartfelt thanks to give! Thank you to Dudette who nominated me for the Sunshine Award! Thank you so much my dear :)
Now I have to answer you 7 questions about myself :)
1. Favorite color? green, dark purple and charcoal 2. Favorite animal? dogs, especially huskies 3. Favorite number? 4 4. Favorite non-alcoholic drink? water is the best, but green tea is a winner too 5. Prefer Facebook or Twitter? Facebook I guess for keeping in touch with people. But I'm really starting to love this Twitter thing… 6. My passion? healthy food, cooking, eating ;), traveling, reading and yoga! 7. Prefer getting or giving presents? I like both- it's fun to be surprised yourself and to make other people happy! 8. Favorite pattern? Not sure. I think the pattern on the sides of my blog is pretty cool though. 9. Favorite day of the week? Days I don't work, get to cook a good breakfast where I can drink my tea outside and listen to the birds. It's the simple things that do it for me :) 10. Favorite flower? Roses. Sounds typical girl I know, but I love the way they die- so dramatic! For this I'm not going to nominate the 10-12 bloggers as I'm supposed to (who needs rules psssh) but I will nominate and say a special hello to the lovely Ali and Jef at the bear and the blackberry. Their blog makes me laugh so hard I cry! Delicious looking food too! And thank you to Heather at Sunday Morning Banana Pancakes for the Versatile Blogger Award. Love you girl! You have stellar photography and food that makes me wish they had invented technology that would allow me to reach through my computer screen and grab a bite :) I'm supposed to tell you 7 random things about myself for this one, but I think the above questions should suffice don't you?? That’s it for me today! Enjoy your next couple of days and come back here on Saturday- I’ll be participating in a super-special blogger event. There’s lots of good food to be seen I promise you!
Hi Gabby!
I just came across your blog and am loving reading through all your recipes! It’s so great to find a blog with easy to make recipes that are whole food, plant-based, and vegan. A lot of the vegan recipes I come across are so full of processed vegan stuff.
Anyways, I made this in the oven and baked it for just under 1 hour at 300 degrees F. It was a nice cripsy/chewy granola.
Take Care!
Thank you so much Stacy! I’m glad you like my recipes! I completely agree with you- there are so many bad-for-you vegan recipes out there. I try to keep mine as clean as possible :)
Thanks for letting me know about the granola :)
Pingback: Link Love and a Peek at January | Oatmeal With A Fork
Gabby
I have never had buckwheat, is there a substitute for it?
Hi Cathy! You could use oats fairly easily or any grain! I highly recommend buckwheat though as it’s so nutritious and gluten-free! Let me know what you try!
Pingback: Smoke Points and Oatmeal Peach Parfaits | Oatmeal With A Fork
Pingback: Recipe: Nana’s Homemade Coconut Granola :: MMM (Must Make Monday) | Fox in the Kitchen
This recipe is fantastic!! I LOVE granola and have been looking for a recipe that doesn’t require tons of added sugar! Thank you–I’ll be making this very soon :)
Thanks Rachel! It’s probably one of te best and most versatile granolas ever and so healthy! Let me know how it goes :)
Pingback: WIAW and Chocolate Protein Buns With Orange Coconut Glaze | Oatmeal With A Fork
Pingback: superpower ice cream | the veggie nook
Gabby, you hit this out of the park! I knew once it was all stirred (before I even baked it) that I was going to love it, and I do! I used 8 Medjool dates (which was perfect for me) and lots of cinnamon! I baked it for about 2 hours at 200 degrees F. I took it out while it was still a bit chewy because that’s my preference, but I think it would all be crunchy with another 30 minutes. I kept eating it from the oven while it was baking because it’s that good! I love that there’s no sugar or oil in it…makes me feel so much better about eating it, unlike regular granola. Thank you so much!!! :)
I’m sorry I wasn’t able to reply in time to your previous question, but I’m so glad it worked out and that you like it! It’s deifnitely one of those recipes I make over and over again. I love eating things that taste delicious ut are super healthy! Who needs packaged granolas? ;)
Thanks so much for letting me know about the baking times too, you’re awesome!
Hi Gabby! I’m going to make this now, oven style, but I had what may be a dumb question…do you rinse the buckwheat off after it soaks or do you include the liquid? Thanks! I’ll let you know how it goes!
Gabby, the granola is marvelous. Sooooo banana-y and crunchy and sweet and healthy. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
So glad you like it :) Thanks for reading and letting me know your thoughts!
Delicious granola for a great breakfast! Love that spoon :)
Hehe me too…makes eating that much more enjoyable (which is saying something because eating is my favourite!)
Great post (yummy yummy!) …my favourite part? That kick ass spoon!
The spoon makes eating granola so fun! Like I’m being a little rebellious lol
You cereally are! (har har ;P)
I’m so excited – I am making this right now! I tried some of the “batter” before putting it into the dehydrator and it tastes amazing, I am so excited for the finished product tonight! We are going on a canoe trip this weekend so I thought this would be perfect to bring along for breakfast and snacking. Next time I’m gonna double the batch – I wonder what the best way to store it is? Airtight container in the cupboard?
Yup that’s exactly how I stored it- just in a mason jar in the pantry! I’m so excited you are making it! Let me know how you like it.
Ya double batch is a good idea, believe me, it goes fast ;)
Gabby, this granola is FANTASTIC!!!! Thank you so much for the recipe. The flavor is just so great, which at times can be hard to find or create when you don’t pile on the added sugar. I’ll be making this all the time, and I think it would be a great gift to give as well! It’s so easy to make and all you gotta do is wait around for it come out of the dehydrator. That’s probably the worst part haha! Cheers :)
YAYYYY! I knew I loved it, but do you ever create and post a recipe and wonder if anyone else will? Thank you so much for letting me know! I hope it comes in handy on your camping trip :)
And believe me, I already have many granola-themed gift ideas wandering around my head ;)
This recipe has just convinced me that I need to get myself a dehydrator – this looks so incredible, i LOVE raw granola – I really wish there was a way you could mail me a BIG package of this – so so good and incredible!
If there wasn’t that silly border between us I totally would! Instead I will continue to tempt you so you buy one and recreate the deliciousness for yourself ;)
I’d actually never had raw granola until I made it myself, and I’m a convert. It’s just as good as baked, if not better!
I got Hooked on a brand called Emily’s Raw Granola – hands down the best Raw Granola I’ve ever had. I do need to get a dehydrator and start making my own!
Then you could experiment to your heart’s content :)
Hmm. Students clearly get taught a different method of counting to 7 in your country ;)
This granola looks incredible! All the delicious things.
Haha oops….I copied and pasted that stuff from another blog and replaced the answers with my own. My bad for not checking it! Thanks for pointing it out ;)
I want that spoon too!:) I just made a very berry granola today in my oven.i love this banana version!
Thank you! I need to try and make some more…I like the sound of a berry one :)
Ok, I seriously need a dehydrator!
Its my new favourite toy! I was like a kid at Christmas when it came :)
i’m always looking for new and different (and health!) granola recipes. i love adding it (if you haven’t noticed by now) to my cereal in the morning, this is really unique although i’m not sure about the buckwheat groats!
Oh dont worry, if you don’t like buckwheat grouts, they are pretty well masked- just a good source of nutrition! I hope you give it a try- it goes well with everything so perfect for you :)
Oh I am SO making this… sounds awesome, love how the nuts and dates are all blended up to make the “glue” for those chunky bits of crunchy joy! I usually just eat buckwheat straight up (I know, I’m weird) but this sounds delicious, I reckon I could even get Viper to eat it!
I think the dates are partly why I could use no oil and since dates are my FAVOURITE it was a perfect situation! I love buckwheat too :) let me know how you like it!
Yummy, love raw granola!
This was my first time ever having it, but I’m a convert! I put it on everything!
Um. That spoon is AMAZING! OMG I’m so jealous, that is awesome!
OK sorry, I had a moment :) That granola sounds SOOOOOOO good! Raw granola is so expensive but this sounds like a really affordable and delicious way to enjoy granola! I’m seriously having some major dehydrator envy right now! Bookmarked!
I am so converted on homemade raw treats- they take time but oh man are they good :) Plus you’re right, totally save money! Now if I only had a vitamix my life would be complete ;)
I’ve been looking for a good way to make granola with no oil…every time I try it just doesn’t work…I will try out yours! Btw..are you doing the vegan potluck on Saturday?
I hope you like it! I’ve done it with only a tiny amount of oil before with baking (check out my chocolate cherry granola) but I was so pleased with how good this one turned out! Maybe the dehydrating is the key?
I certainly am doing the potluck! You are too right? I’m pretty pumped about my recipe and getting to see everyone else’s!
I want that spoon! My kid needs one.
etsy! that place is fabulous :)
Now I really want a dehydrator!! This is exactly what I want to eat ;-)! Looks luscious! And the spoon is “killer,” haha!
Haha well when you do I will do a happy dance with you! In the meantime we’ll call it even since you have that Vitamix ;)
Am I allowed to send you some in the mail (US/Canada border and homemade food issues?) I could totally send you some ;)
Oh wow, that is sweet of you! But I think there may be issues with food?? I’d hate to find out that some border patrol dudes snarfed down on MY granola :-)! I’m building up my Amazon points to get that dehydrator…shouldn’t be TOO long. I’ve printed out your recipe and I’m ready to go!
You are so right…silly border rules!
I can’t wait to see what you come up with when you get yours :)
Hahah killer- yes, I wish the spoon was mine….too bad I gifted it too my dad. Maybe I’ll have to get my own!
i want that spoon. ;)
Try looking on etsy! I remember there being a few people who made them when I was looking. I’m thinking about getting another one too so I won’t have to give it up when I move out lol