Fig and Chocolate Granola | Sugarfree, Glutenfree and Vegan

This gluten-free and vegan granola made with figs, chocolate, almonds, pumpkin seeds and more is naturally sweetened with bananas to make a true guilt-free treat. It is a wholesome and nourishing granola that is chewy and soft without any added sugars like maple syrup and honey.

AUTHOR : KHUSHALI PATEL

PREPARATION TIME: 30 minutes
BAKING TIME: 30 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 1 hour

*For the best results, read the entire post & follow the instructions.

What does this fig and chocolate granola taste like?

This fig & chocolate granola is hearty, fruity, and nutty with a subtle sweet and delicate flavour coming from the figs and chocolate.
It is a wholesome and nourishing granola that is chewy and soft with a bit of a crunch coming from the chocolate chunks.

Why you'll love this fig and chocolate granola

Ease

This fig and chocolate granola is made with basic granola ingredients like whole rolled oats, olive oil, bananas, nuts, spices and more. You can prepare and enjoy this hearty granola in just an hour.

Healthy

I first created this healthy recipe for myself as a means to support my health during a busy schedule. So, my aim for this recipe was to include healthy ingredients that helped boost immunity, increase my energy levels, support my skin, hair, digestion and more. But at the same time, I ensured that it tasted delicious and curbed any sweet cravings I had without making me feel guilty later.

One thing led to another and everyone in my family loved this granola and I ended up preparing it for all of us. This meant that it was only time that I share it with you and help you feel supported, nourished and energized at the same time

Truly guilt-free

Yes! this granola is truly guilt-free because it has no sweetener added to it. It is naturally sweetened with bananas and figs which means that you don’t have to worry about or stop yourself from eating a bowl full of this delicious granola to your heart’s content.

Flavour and texture

The fig and chocolate granola is nutty and hearty with a hint of spice and sweetness. The texture is chewy, creamy (because of the chocolate) and soft. It is an unbelievably cozy and wholesome treat.

Small-batch

I have shared a small batch of this granola recipe so you can make it every two weeks which means that you are consuming fresh ingredients that will not affect your health. However, you can also double this recipe if 2 or more people are consuming it.

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Key Ingredients in this fig and chocolate granola

Whole rolled oats, ground cinnamon & salt

The whole rolled oats are the main ingredient in the recipe. It gives a nice crispy texture to the granola and a hearty flavour. It also is one of those ingredients that will help you feel full for longer. Use good-quality gluten-free whole rolled oats and not quick oats for this recipe.

Almonds, unsweetened almond butter & pumpkin seeds

This granola recipe is made with almonds and unsweetened natural almond butter that pair beautifully with the flavours of the fig and chocolate. The almonds give a nice bite to the granola while the almond butter (which is my favourite) gives a creamy flavour to the granola.

Another great ingredient is pumpkin seeds which are loaded with all things good. They, like the almonds, give a crispy flavour to the granola.

Banana Puree

This is the ingredient that helps make this granola truly GUILT-FREE. Instead of using honey or maple syrup to sweeten this granola, I used banana puree.

It helped moisten the granola with a hint of sweetness. Not only that, it also flavoured the granola without it being overpowering.

While recipe testing, I was quite surprised that I could easily substitute honey or maple syrup with banana puree as it made the granola so flavourful and chewy. You surely won’t miss the sugar at all.

Extra-virgin olive oil and pure vanilla extract

Use high-quality extra-virgin olive oil for this recipe and pure vanilla extract to flavour this recipe. The olive oil flavours the granola and also makes it chewy. Avoid vanilla essence.

Dried figs & 55% dark chocolate

Use high-quality fresh dried figs for this recipe. Chop them up into small to medium bits to help distribute them evenly throughout the granola. I highly recommend using 55% dark chocolate for this recipe as it has a balance of chocolatey and sweet flavours. If you are a vegan, feel free to use any chocolate you enjoy.

However, if you enjoy granola that is not sweet or intend to add a liquid sweetener before eating this then you can use 70% dark chocolate.

Which is the best olive oil for this granola recipe?

For this recipe, use extra-virgin olive oil as it has a bolder flavour. You can also use light or extra-light olive oil if you prefer.

I used a Spanish-origin extra-virgin olive oil for this recipe. You can read about olive oil and how it tastes according to its origin right here

Choosing the best bananas

The best bananas for this recipe are yellow bananas as they are much sweeter and softer than green bananas.

I recommend purchasing the bananas 2-3 days in advance when they are yellow with a few black spots which indicates that they are ripe.

But I highly recommend letting them ripen a bit more as doing so increases the sugar content. Once you buy them, wrap them in a newspaper or a paper bag or keep them in a cardboard box.

Make sure to have them completely covered. Keep the bananas in a warm place in the kitchen for them to ripen. Use them when they have big black spots on them.

What are pre-bake & post-bake granola ingredients?

While preparing granola, it is essential to know that ingredients are classified into two categories for easy understanding: pre-bake ingredients and post-bake ingredients.

Pre-bake ingredients – These include ingredients that do not burn easily. Such as wet ingredients like sweeteners, oils, fats and liquid flavourings and whole grains such as rolled oats, puffed rice, nuts, seeds and spices.
Post-bake ingredients – These include ingredients that burn easily. Such as dried fruits like cranberries, apricots, raisins, goji berries, chocolate and more.

How can you eat this granola?

There are many ways you can enjoy this granola. Here are some ideas:

Make a smoothie bowl – have this granola with a quick homemade smoothie bowl with your favourite fruits, yoghurt, seeds, nuts and nut butter.
Gut-friendly treat – Sprinkle it on top of your yoghurt for a refreshing and gut-friendly mid-day treat.
As dessert – eat it with a scoop of ice cream for a healthy-ish treat.
Like a traditional cold breakfast cereal with milk.
Make overnight oats – Mix in the granola and some yoghurt (the quantity you prefer) in a jar. You can add in chia seeds too and then keep it in the refrigerator overnight. You can add honey or maple syrup in the morning along with other fruits and ingredients of your choice for breakfast.

Let me know how you love eating your granola in the comments box below. I love new ideas!

05 Tips to make this fig and chocolate granola

Puree the banana instead of mashing it

I couldn’t emphasize this more. Yes, mashing bananas may be a lot easier than making a puree. But for this recipe, we need the puree to be smooth and creamy as blending helps release the natural sugars. Once the natural sugars are released, they help coat all the granola ingredients well, in turn replacing liquid sweeteners.

Stir often while baking

Always stir the granola every 10 minutes to ensure that the ingredients don’t burn as they are susceptible to browning and burning easily. However, while doing so, I highly recommend removing the tray and closing the oven door while you are stirring it, to ensure that the oven remains hot.

Use high-quality ingredients

Remember to use high-quality ingredients to make the granola because if they are not, the granola won’t bake well and worse, it can hamper your health

Use pure or couverture chocolate

I highly recommend using good-quality pure or couverture chocolate for baking as it not only tastes wonderful but also supports your health. Avoid using compound chocolate or chocolate chips as it does contain unhealthy fats and stabilizers. Read my Compound or real chocolate | Which chocolate gives outstanding baking results? post to know why.

Taste the bananas, almonds, figs and pumpkin seeds before using

One thing about nuts is that when they are old, they go rancid because their natural oils are released. So always and I mean always purchase fresh nuts or if you already have some in your pantry, check their best before date AND taste them before using. Taste the bananas to see if they taste good and are fresh.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use coconut oil instead?

Yes. But I have not tested this myself. Let me know if you do in the comments section below.

Is the banana flavour strong?

No, the flavour is quite subtle as the flavour of the figs, almond butter olive oil and chocolate take center stage.

Can I add in more or reduce the post-bake ingredients?

Yes! You can increase or decrease the post-bake ingredients. But I highly recommend not decreasing it as it may change the flavour of the granola.

How can I customize this granola?

You can use any other nut or seeds that you like but make sure to follow the quantity specified. Let me know if you do in the comment section below.

Step-by-step instructions

sugarfree fig and chocolate granola on a tray

Fig & Chocolate Granola | Sugar-free, Gluten-free & Vegan

Khushali Patel

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30

Baking Time 30

Total Time 1

Course Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 800 grams

Equipment

01 Weighing Scale
01 Chopping Board & Knife
01 Food Processor or blender
01 Baking tray or sheet lined with parchment paper
01 Air-tight container or Glass Jar
Mixing Bowls
Spatulas

Ingredients

Pre-Bake Ingredients

230 grams Good-quality Whole Rolled Oats
50 grams Almonds, roughly chopped
60 grams Pumpkin Seeds
3 grams Ground Cinnamon
5 grams Salt
120 ml Ripe Banana Puree
100 grams Unsweetened Almond Butter, creamy
70 ml Extra virgin Olive Oil
05 ml Pure Vanilla Extract

Post-Bake Ingredients

80 grams Dried Figs chopped
100 grams 55% Dark Chocolate*

Instructions

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 180°C.
Weigh, chop and blitz the banana till smooth.
Weigh the olive oil, almond butter, pure vanilla extract and banana puree in a bowl. Set aside.
Weigh and then roughly chop the almonds.
Weigh the chocolate. Chop if you are using chocolate bars.
Weigh the figs and then chop them lengthwise. Set aside.
Weigh the whole rolled oats, chopped almonds, pumpkin seeds, ground cinnamon and salt.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper

Method

Using a spatula, mix all the dry ingredients (except the post bake ingredients)
Whisk the wet ingredients together till smooth.
Transfer the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
Mix till the dry ingredients are evenly coated with the wet.
Transfer to the baking sheet.
Bake for a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes till golden brown and crisp. Make sure to stir the granola every 10 minutes while baking to prevent it from burning.
Let it cool completely before mixing in the figs and chocolate.
Transfer the granola into an air-tight container when completely cooled.
Enjoy!

Notes

Storage Instructions – This granola stays fresh for about 2 weeks. However, if the granola becomes soft, bake it for 10 mins and then consume it. Store it in a glass air-tight container, once cooled.
Ripe Bananas - Use ripe yellow bananas that have black spots on them.
Olive oil – You can use extra virgin olive oil or extra-light olive oil for best results.
Dark Chocolate - Use good quality pure or couverture dark chocolate. I recommend using a minimum of 50% dark chocolate because it does provide a bit of a sweet flavour to the granola (as it is not sweet at all). You can use sugar-free or vegan chocolate that you enjoy. If you enjoy granola that is not sweet or wish to make overnight oats with honey then you can use 70% dark chocolate or sugar-free chocolate of your choice. Roughly chop if you are using chocolate bars.
Ingredient Substitution & Weighing Guide - Read it here

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