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A granola recipe (and a giveaway)

A bowl of granola topped with strawberries.

I’ve been a granola-making machine this summer. For some reason, I hardly ever get around to making it during the cooler months, but in the summer, I’ve almost always got some granola in my cabinet.

In the past, I’ve always used some sort of vegetable oil to make my granola, but this summer, I’ve been using coconut oil. Since I put shredded coconut in my granola, the coconut oil works perfectly, enhancing the coconut-y flavor. Super yummy.

I posted a granola recipe back when I first started my blog, but when I saw this one, I gave it a try, and I’ve been using it all this summer. It uses less sugar and honey than my original recipe, but it’s still very tasty, if a little less clumpy.

Before you start making the granola, turn your oven on to 300° F.

For the granola base, mix rolled oats, nuts, coconut, and dried fruit in a bowl (I didn’t add fruit this time).

Granola ingredients in a glass bowl.

Next you’ll need to make the syrup.

Combine the coconut oil, honey, and brown sugar. If it’s cold in your house, the coconut oil may be solid, but in the summer, mine is quite soft.

Wet ingredients for granola.
Cook and stir over low heat until the brown sugar is dissolved.

A whisk in a pot.

Stir in 3 teaspoons of vanilla (or you can use a combo of vanilla and almond extracts), and pour the syrup over the oat mixture. Stir until well coated.

Unbaked granola in a bowl.

Pour the coated oats out onto two baking sheets. If you’ve got rimmed sheets, those make stirring easier. Sadly, my only rimmed sheets are nonstick and I have problems with my granola burning on those.

Granola on baking sheets.

Bake for 15 minutes. Carefully stir, then bake for five minutes longer. Stir again and bake in 2 minute intervals until granola is golden brown and slightly crispy.

Baked granola on two sheets.

Yum.

Baked granola, cooling.

This granola is delicious as a breakfast cereal, of course.

A bowl of granola, topped with strawberries and milk.

But it’s also good for sprinkling on top of yogurt, especially if you add some fresh fruit to the yogurt.

Here’s the recipe, and scroll on down for the giveaway news!

Coconut Granola

Ingredients:
6 cups regular oatmeal
1 cup nuts
1 cup dried fruit
1 cup shaved coconut or other fruit/nut
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup coconut oil
3 tbsp dark brown sugar
3 tsp vanilla extract (or almond extract)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine oats, nuts, fruit, and coconut.

Heat the honey, oil and brown sugar on low heat in a small pot. Stir in extracts.

Pour honey mixture over oat mixture and stir well. Spread onto two baking sheets.

Bake for 15 minutes, then stir. Bake for another 5 minutes and stir. Bake in additional 2-5 minute intervals until granola is light golden brown.

The giveaway!

This giveaway is closed.

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

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Daleen

Wednesday 10th of July 2013

Ok, we signed up with Tropical Traditions! Hope we win. Love this site :)

Laura

Monday 6th of August 2012

Coconut oil is such a healthy alternative. You can also use the oil on skin and hair. When I notice my hair is getting dry, I use coconut oil on the ends and braid it for the day. After a day of conditioning, my hair is restored to it's natural state with a little bit of extra shine. Also, if you live somewhere tropical, try drying some noni (cheese fruit) and mixing it with your coconut oil. The result is a great skin treatment for Mosquito bites and minor skin irritations.

Jenna

Monday 2nd of July 2012

Hi, Kirsten! I've had your granola recipe bookmarked ever since you originally posted it! I finally got to try it this morning and it is so delicious! Thanks so much for sharing! Also, I love your yogurt recipe as well! Hope you're having a wonderful day and thanks again!

Liesl Kisner

Sunday 13th of May 2012

Hi Kristen,

I found your blog the other day and I LOVE it!!! So much here I can learn from and enjoy!

This recipe looks WAY yummy, so I went ahead and subscribed to the newsletter and "liked" them on FB for the giveaway!

Thanks for all of your awesome posts and being a good example for women! :)

Levi

Wednesday 9th of May 2012

What kinds of dried fruit can be added? Dried apples? I have some laying around with no use. Dates, banana chips, raisins?

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