This low carb banana-flavored cereal is the breakfast recipe you’ve been waiting for! Totally grain-free, it’s made with almond meal, hemp seeds and flaked coconut. Dig in!
If I suggested that you make your mother some cereal for Mother’s Day, would you think I am crazy? I mean, this is Mother’s Day, right? Surely I could come up with something more special than a bowl of cereal! Maybe you would think I don’t care for mothers or motherhood very much. Or maybe I had a bad experience in my childhood on Mother’s Day and I’ve been scarred for life, so I try to minimize the celebrations. Maybe I am really, really stingy or really, really cheap and all I want to spend on anyone is the price of a box of cereal. Just call me the Mother’s Day Grinch.
Or maybe, just maybe, there is a method to my madness. Picture this, if you will. A mother, a kind, generous soul who has given her all to her sweet children, who works tirelessly for their welfare, has recently gone on a low carb, gluten-free diet. It’s the best decision she ever made for her own health. She’s lost weight, she’s gained energy, her myriad health issues have decreased, she looks and feels like a million bucks. But she also feels a little deprived. Heretofore, she was used to pouring herself a quick bowl of cereal in the morning while the kids were getting ready for school. She loved the ease of it, the crunch of it, the way the milk took on the flavours and sweetness. This mother really misses her cereal.
Now a bowl of cereal for Mother’s Day breakfast is starting to look pretty good, isn’t it? Just the thing to make the new healthy mom feel truly special. And the kids can even bring it to her in bed!
I had a lot of fun creating this cereal and I certainly think it’s special enough for Mother’s Day. I wanted something granola-esque, with lots of healthy ingredients to boost your morning nutrition. I had a bag of hemp seeds from Bob’s Red Mill that I wanted to try out, as I’ve heard wonderful things about the flavours and nutrition of these little powerhouse seeds. They are low in carbs (yay!), high in fiber (yay!), and have a moderate amount of protein. Plus, you know, plenty of those other nutrient thingies like Omega 3s and magnesium. So along with some Bob’s almond meal and flaked coconut, and some chopped nuts, they made a great healthy base for a tasty banana nut cereal.
Oh, and did I mention it’s really easy to make? Score some points with mom AND have a little time for yourself. Win win, I would say.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Bob’s Red Mill. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Banana Nut Hemp Cereal
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups Bob's Red Mill almond meal
- 1 cup Bob's Red Mill hemp seeds
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1 cup Bob's Red Mill unsweetened flaked coconut
- ⅓ cup Swerve Sweetener
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoon butter melted
- 2 teaspoon banana extract
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300F and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the almond meal, hemp seeds, nuts, coconut, sweetener and salt.
- Stir in butter, extract and egg until mixture begins to clump together. Spread mixture out onto prepared baking sheet and press down to help it clump together.
- Bake about 25 minutes, stirring 2 or 3 times, until beginning to brown. Turn off oven and let cereal sit inside for 5 to 10 minutes more.
Tonya says
I love this recipe and enjoy it as a cereal but was wondering what I could add to this recipe to make into more of a bar for easy on the go meal . was also wondering if adding some collagen protein peptides would work for adding a little more protein?
Carolyn says
Sure, add the collagen. And then add an egg white (or possibly two) and press firmly into a pan and bake. Then cut into bars. Not sure how long to bake, though…
KarenJo says
I have missed you cold old cereal in the summer time! I think this recipe is my all time favorite now!!(as I drip cashew milk off the spoon onto my keyboard) 5 Stars Carolyn and so easy to make 🙂
Carolyn says
Glad you like it!
Terri says
This turned out really good. It is still cooling in the pan but I just had to eat a warm serving with almond milk. I only had 2/3 the amount of hemp seed so I added sunflower seeds to make up the difference. I doubt it changed the flavor any. I also substituted vanilla for the banana flavor. I also adore the Peanut Butter Flax granola. I love all your granolas.
Ginny says
This was wonderful and so filling! I only had chopped pecans (like smaller than 1/4″) and it ended up quite crumbly – do you think this was the problem? There were a few chunks, but mostly crumbs. Also, I’m wondering if I could reduce the carbs more by subbing in a zero-carb whey protein for maybe 1/2 of the almond flour? Thanks for all of your hard work – you are making my life so much easier!
Mary says
Carolyn, I want you to know that you have been a life saver for me. I have 6 auto-immune diseases and since starting a LCHF diet, I have felt better than I have for the last 20 some years. I look forward to making your recipes. Thank you for finding alternatives to a lot of my favorite foods
Carolyn says
So very glad I can help, Mary! It must be tough living with all of that.
Mary says
I love this. Have made it several times for myself and my 93 yr. old father. My daughter would like to try making this also. The problem…military frowns upon the use of hemp seeds. Can I substitute with raw sunflower seeds?
Carolyn says
Sure, sub away. But why does the military frown on the use of hemp???
Mary says
Had to look this up. Found this at http://www.af.mil/
The prohibition is explained in Air Force Instruction 44-120, paragraph 1.1.5, as well as AFI 44-121, paragraph 3.2.2, which states, “Studies have shown that products made with hemp seed and hemp seed oil may contain varying levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an active ingredient of marijuana which is detectable under the Air Force Drug Testing Program. In order to ensure military readiness, the ingestion of products containing or products derived from hemp seed or hemp seed oil is prohibited.”
Elaine Markley says
Kind of like too many poppy seeds showing up on a drug test as a narcotic.
Carolyn says
Interesting!!!
Mary says
Ca
Estelle says
Thanks for the recipe, first time ever that I used hemp seeds, crunchiness is awesome. I made it with coconut oil though, do you think it would have to be stored in the fridge?
Michelle H says
I’ve been making your recipe for the last few months and I love it. I use 1 teas. vanilla and 1 teas. almond extract instead of banana. It is sooooo good with almond milk. I also just need a couple tbl of sweetener. This is also great in some yogurt. Thanks so much.
Carolyn says
Thanks! Glad you like it.
Kiki says
I really loved this. I read through all the reviews and decided to forgo the banana extract and used maple extract instead which I’m glad I did. I’ve never had hemp seed before but I really like it! Although the granola was not as crunchy as I’d like, it goes great with some almond milk.
Dani @ DaniCaliforniaCooks says
I love the way this looks! I’ll have to hunt down banana extract, however.
Monique @ Ambitious Kitchen says
This looks awesome! I’ve been loving hemp seeds lately, just spooning tablespoons into my mouth after workouts. 🙂
Susan says
Have had this as a snack twice now, so very pleased to have this in my pantry. Thanks once again Carolyn, for your creative foodie talents
Shaina says
This is cereal perfection.
Liz says
This looks perfect! I’m certain I’m going to be making a lot more of your recipes in the future—my blood glucose has been whacky and though I’m not considered pre-diabetic, I am symptomatic 🙁 This looks like a fabulous breakfast!
Betsy says
I made this yesterday and it is divine! The only thing I would do differently next time is use maple instead of banana extract. Something about the banana doesn’t sit well with me. And the one I have is pure banana extract from Olive Nation. But it’s wonderful as a snack dry, or as cereal with almond milk. It’s wonderful to be able to have cereal again! Oh, BTW, I subbed hazelnut meal because I was low on almond flour. YUM!
Linda says
I agree with you on the banana flavoring. I, too, had thought maple & cinnamon would be a great alternative. I tried topping the dry banana cereal with two sliced strawberries. I added English Toffee Stevia to canned coconut milk & applied liberally! Wow!!
Toni | BoulderLocavore says
I love hemp seeds. They remind me of sunflower hulls in their flavor and they pack such a nutritious punch in recipes. I love this cereal Carolyn. I may be sending a link to it anonymously to my family for Mother’s Day. A little nudge!
Kristyl says
I used almond flavoring instead of the banana (I’m going to get some and try it.). It is delicious!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
I adore your reasoning for why this delicious looking cereal is a good Mother’s Day breakfast!
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says
This looks completely delicious, such a great way to start the day!
Colleen (Souffle Bombay) says
This would set me off on the right foot for the day!