Toasted Oats (Banana Granola Clusters)

Fresh out of the oven — golden, lightly crisp toasted oats before cooling and crumbling.

A Breakfast Staple

When we started eating more Mediterranean-style, one of the first things I wanted to clean up was granola. Even the “healthy” store-bought ones usually come loaded with added sugars, seed oils, or a laundry list of ingredients. Since Desmond eats a yogurt bowl almost every morning, I needed something nutritious that still gave him the little crunch he likes without the extras.

This three-ingredient toasted oat mix became our answer. It’s budget-friendly, takes just a few minutes to mix together, and bakes into these chewy-crisp clusters that work with pretty much anything. I’ve made it so often now that I can do it half-asleep while his yogurt is waiting on the counter.

Rolled oats, mashed banana, and cinnamon before mixing — the quickest little base for homemade toasted oats.

Why This Works So Well with the Mediterranean Diet

This little recipe checks all the boxes of what we try to prioritize:

• Whole grains: Rolled oats add fiber and steady energy through the morning.

• Naturally sweet: The banana does the sweetening on its own—no syrups or refined sugar.

• Heart-healthy: Oats support good cholesterol levels, and cinnamon adds flavor without anything artificial.

• Simple ingredients: Three things you can pronounce and probably already have.

• Customizable: Choose your texture—chewy or crunchy—just by adjusting the oven temp.

It’s one of those “small but mighty” things that keeps breakfast wholesome without being complicated.

Different Ways to Use Toasted Oats

Besides topping yogurt bowls, these oats work in so many other ways:

• Sprinkle on oatmeal for extra texture

• Add to smoothie bowls

• Crumble over baked apples

• Pair with cottage cheese

• Mix into banana “ice cream”

• Eat warm off the tray (guilty)

Desmond likes his with a mix of soft and crisp pieces, so the instructions below land right in that middle zone. If you prefer crunchier, go a little hotter and shorten the bake. For softer, lower the heat and extend the time.

Mashed banana and oats mixed together and spread onto parchment — ready to go into the oven.

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Toasted Oats (Banana Granola Clusters)

Yield: 1-2, depending on use

Author: Siena Haskell

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 30 MinTotal time: 35 Min

A simple Mediterranean-friendly topping for yogurt bowls, oatmeal, and snacks.

Ingredients

• 48g rolled oats
• 1 mashed banana
• Cinnamon, to taste

Instructions

1. Mash the banana in a bowl until smooth.
2. Stir in the oats and cinnamon until everything is coated.
3. Spread the mixture on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
4. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes, flip, and bake 10 more minutes.
5. Cool for 5–10 minutes to help it firm up, then crumble and enjoy.

Storage

Let it cool fully before storing. Keep in an airtight container for 3–4 days on the counter, or up to a week in the fridge.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

292

Fat

4 g

Sat. Fat

1 g

Carbs

61 g

Fiber

9 g

Net carbs

52 g

Sugar

15 g

Protein

8 g

Sodium

4 mg

Cholesterol

0 mg

Nutrition facts are approximate and may vary.