Your first meal of the day is the most important: it gives you strength, energy, and focus. It helps decision-making, planning, and regulates your mood. And the best way to do that is with a light, healthy, and nutritious breakfast. You stop and read the title again. Yes, you read it correctly, and we know what you’re thinking: there must be a typo, right? How can the word breakfast follow the words banana pudding? It would be a dream come true if this were so, but it must be a mistake! Well, let us reassure you–there are no typos here, and this is not a dream. Pinch yourself, banana pudding for breakfast is your sweet new reality.

Plan this for breakfast and your family will be jumping out of bed before the alarm goes off. Suddenly, your kids won’t be feeling so sick on those strenuous test days. There’s a good reason for this: just read that title again… Ah, now it all makes sense. Here, freshly sliced bananas are whipped together with smooth greek yogurt into a rich, creamy pudding. Simply sweetened with natural honey and fragrant vanilla, it is filled with extra slices of banana, and topped with crunchy homemade granola. Made from almonds, oats, and flavored with ground cinnamon, vanilla, and maple syrup, it is addicting on its own and the perfect crispy companion to this bowl of morning sunshine.

This breakfast is incredibly easy to make. The pudding comes together in less than five minutes and all the ingredients are simply blended in a food processor. And while the pudding is chilling you can prepare the granola: just mix everything in a bowl, then bake it until hot and crispy. The aroma alone will have your neighbors flocking to your front door begging you for a taste. Who can blame them? You have the tastiest granola on the block, more flavorful then anything you can find at the store. It stays fresh for weeks, and even after enjoying this decadent breakfast you will have plenty left over, just waiting to be enjoyed as an afternoon snack or delicious bowl of cereal. You can even prep everything the night before, so in the morning all you need to do is assemble and decorate it with fresh, colorful fruits. With the flavor and delicious creaminess of rich banana pudding, but made with wholesome ingredients and topped with crunchy vanilla granola, this healthy meal proves that sometimes, breakfast and dessert can go hand in hand. And no, this is not a dream.

Banana Pudding Breakfast Bowl
makes about 3 1/2 cups granola
pudding recipe serves 2

For the vanilla granola:
2 1/2 cups (200g) old-fashioned rolled oats
3/4 cup (100g) sliced almonds
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup virgin coconut oil, melted
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

For the banana pudding:
1 cup (245g) plain greek yogurt
2 bananas (about 225g), broken into large pieces
1 to 2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 banana, sliced

For garnish:
banana slices
berries
ground cinnamon
chia seeds

Make the granola:
Preheat oven to 300°F. In a medium bowl, combine the oats, almonds, cinnamon, and salt, and stir to combine. In a small bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, coconut oil, and vanilla extract until smooth and combined. Pour the syrup mixture over the oat mixture, and stir gently to combine and coat the oats evenly. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet, spread evenly, and bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove pan from the oven, stir, and let cool completely (the granola will get crisp as it cools). When cool, transfer to a airtight container for storage. Granola will keep for up to 2 weeks at room temperature.

Make the banana pudding:
In a food processor or blender, combine the yogurt, 2 bananas, 1 tablespoon of honey, and the vanilla extract. Blend until smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. Taste for sweetness and add more honey if desired. Transfer to a bowl, and stir in the banana slices. The pudding can be served immediately, or refrigerated until chilled, it’s up to you!

Assemble the bowl:
Pour the pudding into serving bowls. Top each bowl with banana slices and a generous amount of granola. Decorate with berries, ground cinnamon, and chia seeds, or get creative with your own toppings, and enjoy!

note:
— To make this dish vegan, simply use a non-dairy yogurt, and maple syrup instead of honey.