A granola recipe (and a giveaway)
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).
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.
Cook and stir over low heat until the brown sugar is dissolved.
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.
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.
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.
Yum.
This granola is delicious as a breakfast cereal, of course.
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
½ cup honey
½ cup coconut oil
3 tablespoon dark brown sugar
3 teaspoon 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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I love coconut oil. I use it for stirfry curries as well. 🙂
I actually have probably a silly question about the granola making itself. Do you think modifying the recipe to have no nuts is possible? Should I compensate with something else (more oats, etc?) while attempting it? I'm new to the substituting in recipes idea, so any advice would be great!
Oh yes, you don't need to add nuts, and you probably wouldn't need to modify the recipe in order for it turn out properly. If you wanted to, though, you could use more fruit in place of the nuts.
Awesome, thanks. I'm going to have to give this a try...it's nearly impossible to buy granola that has no nuts in it!
I've also used seeds (sunflower works very well, pumpkin not so much, pepitas yes) in place of nuts.
My friend uses soy nuts for her kid, but since they're usually roasted already, she adds them after the granola has cooled. I second the seeds. Also, adding dehydrated (unsweetened) coconut is a good stand in, if it is tolerated.
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Thanks for the granola recipe - sounds great!
LOVE homemade granola. I have been doing this for a couple of years and am always looking for new recipes. I have also switched to using coconut oil this year and love it. BTW, thanks to you, my yogurt always turns out. Thanks for the recipe and the inspiration.
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my daughter (thinks she) hates coconut so this would be an interesting experiment!
I signed up for their newsletter. Thanks for all the great recipies!!
A new granola recipe! What a treat. We've been munching away on one with quinoa in it for the past couple of months but it is time for a change.
Would love a link to that recipe as I'm always looking for ways to make my homemade granola healthier & use more quinoa. Another suggestion for those who cannot have nuts, I sometimes add in bran cereal (like all-bran) for added texture & flavor. This also allows me to cut down the sugar in the recipe a little as it has some inherent sweetness.
My husband loves granola but hates coconut, what would be good substitutions for both the shredded coconut and the coconut oil?
I've found vegetable oil (or cheap pancake syrup, actually) work fine for the coconut oil.
Once upon a time, I even used concentrated fruit juice (like frozen apple concentrate) as the 'liquid' and it worked well.
HeatherS
You can get coconut oil that doesn't taste or smell like coconut, that's the kind I use all the time in my granola and other cooking/baking.
i signed up for the newsletter and liked them on facebook. thanks for the recipe as well, i will try this one as the one i am currently using has an awful lot of sugar in it.
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I subscribed to their newsletter! The recipe sounds DELISH!
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I like on FB. Thanks for the contest.
I subscribed to the email newsletter! I haven't used coconut oil in cooking yet. I do have a jar in my fridge that I use for my kids and myself, but it is not a high quality coconut oil. I use it on a q-tip to lubricate my daughters' and my noses, so we don't get nosebleeds due to dry air in the winter. I use it as a carrier oil for my thieve's oil (to keep us from getting sick, or help us get over colds, etc quicker). I use it for extremely itchy spots at times. I also know people use it as a personal lubricant. Coconut oil is a multi-tasker!
Have you ever tried replacing the oil with butter? Did it make any difference?
I've tried it - and it didn't work as well. It burned faster when I cooked it. But I've used vegetable oil quite easily.
Butter is likely tastier but it has a much lower burn point, so it'll burn faster.
Unless you want to use clarified butter, which is almost pure butterfat and none of the solids. It's easy to do. Melt butter. Cool. There will be three layers: foam on the top, clarified butter in the middle, milkfat solids at the bottom. Use the middle layer. To make Indian ghee, simmer the butter for 15-20 over the lowest heat possible, then cool, etc. This browns the butter, making it taste nuttier or tangier.
I make granola with butter all the time--no problems. Our recipe uses 1/4 c. butter and 1/4 cup honey which we melt together in a deep baking pan in the oven as it preheats. Then we stir in all the oats, nuts, coconut, etc. Mix it all up in the pan and bake. Saves washing a bowl, too.
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'You have successfully subscribed to our sales newsletter'...the granola looks delish, can't wait to try a batch 🙂
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I think I should point out that coconut oil has a lot of saturated fat - 87%, whereas oil has very little - veggie oil has 12.5% and canola even less.
It's a saturated fat, but has no cholesterol and is also a "natural" fat unlike canola oil. It has many health benefits too. So no you wouldn't make a diet of it, but it is a healthy choice.
The research I've seen is split at best. For example: medical research indicates that dietary cholesterol has little effect on serum cholesterol, but that dietary saturated fat has a relatively strong effect on serum cholesterol.
Can you explain, please, what you mean by "natural" in regards to coconut and canola oils? And detail what health benefits coconut oil has?
Coconut oil comes from coconuts a naturally produced product. I read the book "The Coconut Oil Miracle" This is where I got most my info, along with what I've looked up online. Just Google Benefits of coconut oil.
Canola, sunflower, safflower and other oils are also naturally produced products.
I subscribed to their newsletter! I have never made homemade granola (usually just buy Aldi's)...thank you for the recipe!
Nom Nom... granola. I make my own too, but darn it if I never thought to use my coconut oil. You smart girl, you... So, I've never tried this brand but I went on over to FB and liked them all the same.
By the way... it's peach season, and dried peach pieces are perfect added to coconut granola after it has cooled. just sayin...
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I have been making your granola since I first started reading your blog. I made some alteration to it by using less oil AND I use coconut oil. I cut back on both the sugar and honey. Each time I make I cut back a little at a time just to see how far I could go without losing the great taste!! I add sunflower kernel, almond slices and lately it's been craisins.
I liked them on facebook! And thanks for the timely post. I was just considering to attempt my own granola. I love all your other recipes so I am definitely going to give this a try...thanks!
liked them on facebook. I've been planning to try to make my own granola for a while, so here's my incentive!
Coconut oil has just recently come up on my radar screen, so I've signed up for their newletter.
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Thanks for the link to Tropical Traditions. I signed up for their newsletter and also placed an order for some coconut floud - have been wanting to try baking with it and with their free shipping offer and 33% off, now is the time! I am also going to try your granola recipe, but will try substituting some TVP (texturized vegetable protein) for a bit of the oatmeal to up the protein value and lower the carbs. I will let you know how that works!
That would be coconut flour, not floud!
I liked them on Facebook. Side note, I used coconut oil to help get rid of thrush several years ago. It has so many uses and I should really use it more often!
I was referred to you blog by dogear6 I like that your new granola recipe is a lower sugar version
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I liked them on facebook, I have never tried coconut oil before but my husbands family is from the Island's and so this might be a hit. Thanks again
i subscribed to newsletter!! thanx for contest.:)
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I love granola, I love coconut so making granola with coconut oil seems to be a no-brainer. Thanks for the recipe.
Ooh, thanks for linking me! I had an old favorite granola recipe that made more clusters, but I find this one to taste a lot better in addition to being healthier...even without the clusters. Glad you all liked it!
Does this coconut oil actually taste like coconut? I bought some a few months ago and I like using it, but it doesn't have a coconut taste at all.
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I liked them on facebook. I love, love, love coconut oil and have wanted to try Tropical Traditions for a long time.:)
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Your granola looks delicious. I have never attempted to make it , but maybe now is a good time to give it a try. I do love sprinkling it over yogurt, and fresh sliced peaches. YUM!
What about putting it in a dehydrator? Do you think it would have the same effect?
I "Liked" Tropical Traditions on Facebook. I'd love to try this coconut oil!
I also signed up for the newsletter. Thanks for a great giveaway!
I've subscribed! I love the idea of using coconut oil, I've just never bought any. And thanks for the granola recipe. I made some last week, and it just wasn't quite what I wanted. This looks great!
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I "liked" Tropical Traditions! And I would love to win that coconut oil, I love coconut granola. Please pick me, random.com!!
I subscribed. What a great give-away, I've been wanting to try coconut oil. Thanks!
I subscibed to the newsletter. Thanks for the granola recipe, I'll have to give it a shot!
I signed up for the Tropical Traditions newsletter. I'd love to win this coconut oil!
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I subscribed to the salesletter. Some of us don't do face book.
I added Tropical Traditions on Facebook and signed up for their newsletter. I love me some coconut oil, and your lovely blog of course:)
I liked them on Facebook too. And thanks for the recipe! I have only tried one granola recipe that did not turn out great so I have been looking for others and this one looks doable. I love granola and actually am more inclined to eat a healthy breakfast if we have some in the house. Thanks!
I liked Tropical Traditions on Facebook. I want to win this so bad I have a lot of recipe's using coconut oil I want to try but just haven't purchased it yet so I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win this!
I am a subscriber! I have never tried this product before. I'm Intrested in it.
I signed up for their newsletter. Yummy - we love granola around here!
I liked them on facebook. Can't wait to try this granola recipe. I made your grillled pizza dough the other night and it was sooooooo easy and good!
I have subscribed to the Tropical Traditions newsletter and liked them on FB. You can also make soap with coconut oil. It makes the most wonderful soap of all. So good for your skin. I would love to try this oil!!!!!
I like Tropical Traditions on Facebook! 🙂
I signed up for the newsletter. Granola is the standard for breakfast around here. So much so that we've nicknamed it "people chow." Just bought my first jar of coconut oil last week and so far have only used it to saute. I'm hoping it works well for baking.
I liked Tropical Traditions on FB. I LOVE coconut oil. it is good for so many things. We use it on sunburns and it stops the skin from peeling, also usually turns to a tan. We use it also as a sunscreen and it works wonderfully. Can't wait to try this brand and what a great price for a quart. I'm excited about the giveaway - thank you!
Liked Tropical Traditions on Facebook! Cant wait to try the granola tomorrow! Thanks for the recipe and give away opportunity!
I signed up for the newsletter at Tropical Traditions also. Looks like a very informative sight. I'm going to go back and look around.
Hi Kristen,
I subscribed to the newsletter and "liked" them on FB... Coconut oil is something I would like to try out and see if it is a good replacement for other oils. Thanks for the opportunity!
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I signed up for the newsletter, and I am loving this recipe.
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Is granola the same as muesli ?
Is the temperature in Fahrenheit. In the Netherlands we have celcius?
I subscribed to them! I've never used Coconut Oil, but I have been wanting to try it.
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I like tropical traditions on fb. I've been trying to find out more concerning coconut oil and the no saturated fat camp. I need more research based information.
I signed up for the newsletter. I'm also interested in coconut as a skin care product.
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I subscribed, but I do not have a facebook. I heard extra virgin coconut oil is the healthiest also extra virgin olive oil.
I subscribed to their sales newsletter! I've never even thought to try coconut oil, it sounds tasty!
This looks amazing! I'll definitely be trying it soon. I also 'liked' Tropical Traditions on FB. I've been wanting to try some new oils with added health benefits!
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"Like" on fb. I have used coconut oil in place of vegetable oil and have gotten smiliar results. Mine was a low quality product.
Subscribed to the newsletter and I'll visit their facebook page after I comment here. This recipe is so easy sounding, but tell me, how long does the granola keep? How do you usually store it? I'm assuming you'd have to allow it to cool first.
I liked them! I'd love to try this oil as that granola looks yummy! Love to make some. 🙂
I subscribed to the newsletter. I would love some coconut oil!
I subscribed to the newsletter. BTW, your granola recipe looks great and I'm definitely going to make it! Thanks!
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Just clicked the like button on the Tropical Traditions facebook page!!
Good for Canada too! Yay! I subscribed to their newsletter. I love coconut oil, especially on popcorn, so I hope I win!
Never tried the stuff but always wanted to. I love coconut. Yum.
Liked on FB and subscribed to newsletter! Thanks for the opportunity!
It looks great! I wonder what type of oil I could substitute. I seem to have an allergy to coconut. Do you think the granola would taste good with another oil? I have tried several different granola recipes lately, that tasted okay. I would like something that taste as good as the expensive store-bought kind but home made.
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Liked TT on FB! Thanks!
I liked it 😉
I liked them on facebook. Hope I win!
I liked them! I use real simple's granola recipe but this one looks great too!
I have liked them on Facebook. I would love to try this product!
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Okie Dokie Smokey!!! I've just liked me some COCONUT OIL--- by Tropical Taditions!!!!! ******* win, win, win!!! **********
Hi Kristen,
Love, love, love your blog! Am trying to work on making updating my blog part of my daily routine, but with four kids 6 and under and a teenager, I think I need just about another four hours in the day to get it all done! *grin*
I use coconut oil in most of my baking now, including my sandwich bread and it's awesome. Totally went and 'Liked' Tropical Traditions on FB! I don't know about in the US, but in Canada, coconut oil isn't a frugal choice, but I think it's the healthier one 🙂
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Thanks for the recipe!
T.T. "liked"! I love using coconut oil, esp. in curries........
"Liked" on Facebook. Also, a frugal tip - Coconut oil makes for a wonderful facial moisturizer.
Hi, I did both, Facebook like and subscribed to the newsletter!
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I signed up for TT newsletter!! and BTW i've been dying to try a granola recipe...thanks for sharing your new find!!
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loved the granola recipe!!! my kids wouldn't let me put the coconut in but the coconut oil was wonderful!!!
Hi, I am new to using coconut oil. I am going to use it for my hair and will be cooking with it too!!! I just found your website this morning and it is just great!!! Thanks!
kristen, i just made this--my first time making granola. so good! and it was easy! i'm so proud!
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New comment on an old post - but I was wondering if you knew how much this granola costs you to make? I've been looking for a good processed breakfast cereal alternative but I don't want to break the bank!
What kinds of dried fruit can be added? Dried apples? I have some laying around with no use. Dates, banana chips, raisins?
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! 🙂
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!
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.
Ok, we signed up with Tropical Traditions! Hope we win. Love this site 🙂