This Tropical Coconut Oil Granola Recipe is guaranteed to make your morning more pleasant. Every spoonful takes your imagination to your favorite island destination. What better way to awaken the senses first thing in the morning?
I am a cereal-for-breakfast kind of person. Sure, pancakes and bacon & eggs are great, but I keep those for weekend breakfasts - that is, when I actually have time.
During the week, I have to have cereal. Firstly, I LOVE it, and secondly, it's quick!
Cereal is the Best Breakfast
Usually I cook some sort of hot cereal (oatmeal etc.) because most boxed cereal is just too sugary (aka unhealthy) for me. When I have cold cereal, it is most likely homemade granola. Take this awesome tropical version that I made with coconut oil, for example.
The benefit of homemade granola is that you know exactly what is and isn't in there. I like to increase the nutritional value by adding a variety of nuts and seeds (which can be adjusted according to taste preferences and availability).
To give this version a tropical twist, it uses not only coconut oil, but also shredded coconut, some orange zest, and pineapple chunks. Aloha!
Three Cheers for Coconut Oil
Do you love coconut oil as much as I do? It has become my favorite oil to bake with (just look at this coconut oil recipe collection), especially when making healthier desserts. If you think about it, a coconut is a super versatile food. Not only can you drink its milk, but you can also make coconut water, eat its meat, or extract its oil and use it for delicious recipes. I love coconuts. Thank you, Coconut Gods!
Now, there are different grades of coconut oil and I definitely always prefer the organic, virgin variety. I came to love it when I tested my Coconut Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies here.
Random Questions
Oil in granola serves several purposes. It helps to bind the ingredients together and promotes crispness and browning during the baking process. Additionally, it adds flavor and moisture to the granola, enhancing its overall texture.
If you prefer to substitute coconut oil in granola, you can use other oils such as olive oil, canola oil, or even melted butter. Each of these options will impart a slightly different flavor profile, so choose one that complements the other ingredients in your granola.
The ingredient that helps granola stick together is typically a binder such as honey, maple syrup, or another sweetener. These ingredients act as a natural glue, binding the oats, nuts, and other components together to create clusters or chunks in the finished granola.
Homemade granola might not turn out crunchy for several reasons. It could be due to insufficient baking time, not spreading the granola thin enough on the baking sheet, or not using enough oil or sweetener to bind the ingredients properly. To achieve the desired crunch, ensure that the granola is spread evenly and baked until it reaches a golden brown color.
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Recipe
Tropical Coconut Oil Granola
Ingredients
- 3 cups oats old-fashioned/large flake
- ¾ cup almonds chopped
- ½ cup coconut shredded, unsweetened
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- ¼ cup sesame seeds
- ⅛ cup quinoa
- zest of ½ an orange
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup brown/raw/coconut sugar
- 1 cup candied pineapple chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper
- Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- In a small saucepan melt coconut oil, honey, sugar and vanilla extract over medium heat. Pour over the oat mixture and stir until evenly coated.
- Spread mixture onto prepared baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Stir and bake for another 15 minutes or until golden brown (an extra 5-10 minutes may be required).
- Sprinkle chopped pineapple over the granola and let cool. Once cool break granola into chunks and store in an airtight container or large ziploc bag.
- Enjoy with milk, over Greek yogurt or as snack.
Pin this Tropical Coconut Oil Granola tutorial for later?
Emily
I like to whip coconut oil with raw shea and make a moisturizer. I also use it as a lip balm. Another great use for coconut oil is a deep conditioning hair treatment. I put it on the ends of my hair and let it sit for 30min to 1 hour then wash my hair as I normally would. The list goes on and on... coconut oil is amazing!
Diana
I use coconut oil for everything, cooking, teeth brushing, oil pulling, moisturizer. I eat it and feed it to my child and my dogs. I work in a deli and I carry a small jar with me and use it for burns. I also use it in homemade deodorant.
gala
I'd made fried potatoes
Melani
Cook shrimp scampi! I use the concentrate in my smoothies every morning.
Emily
I'd add some to my smoothies.
Richelle
I would make stove top popcorn. Mmmmmm! Although, your granola looks fab.
Megan's Cookin'
I love homemade granola and this looks perfect!
Elena
I would make muffins
Mary Beth Elderton
I love coconut oil in our morning smoothies. I hadn't thought about it it before, but I might try something like your granola!
Kathleen
We use coconut oil for many things: in cooking, in smoothies, in making raw chocolate, in oil pulling, in deodorant and other topical uses! Thanks for the giveaway!! 🙂
Yesenia J
I use coconut oil as a moisturizer, to oil pull and in recipes.
Debra Lee
I would make some banana bread!
Vicki Ponichtera
I use it for everything! Skin, face, body, oh and in all my cooking! 🙂
Sue P
I make my own toothpaste with coconut oil, baking soda, and a drop or two of peppermint essential oil....use it as a moisturizer, in essential oil blends, in my cooking.....:)
Pam Tovaas
I would make cookies with the coconut oil. I already use it on my hair and skin and love how it's working. I want to win a gallon!!!
Karen D
I'd make pie crusts for apple pie, chocolate chip cookies and use it instead of shortening for cakes.
Vesper
I would try and make some muffins with this oil
Sue D
I like to use Coconut oil for baking, cooking, making granola and making deodorant.
Diana
I love to use coconut oil for oil pulling my teeth, lotions and deodorant. I would love to get into using it more for cooking.
Anne Taylor
We love coconut oil! We'd use it on our skin, in our hair, on our scalp, for baking, frying and even as a quick lip gloss!
thanks
Sue H.
I would make the hard shell chocolate topping for ice cream.
JessicaC
I'd use it to make homemade deodorant!
Harlena Dyer
I'd try your granola recipe first & then a recipe I ran across for whipped body butter using coconut oil
Eve
Learning to use coconut oil more everyday! Just starting out though so still in the baby steps learning phase!
Eve
woo!
Elizabeth G.
I use coconut oil for everything! I would make coconut bread.
Deb
I cook with it, bake with it, make lotion bars, soap...love it!
Carrie W.
There's so much I would do with this! Homemade brownies sound delicious right now!
Maria
Thank you for the giveaway! Love making stir fry with VCO
Beth
So glad I found this blog post. My husband & I have decided to make our own granola, but weren't sure where to start.
Your recipe is perfect!
Beth
I would make some Coconut Shrimp with the coconut oil
Laura Lane
Skinny chocolate is a combination of coconut oil, cocoa, and Truvia that has been ground in a coffee grinder. It's from the Trim Healthy Mama book by Serene and Pearl.
Regina
Sounds like a great alternative to feed my chocolate addiction 🙂
Kristen
I'd make granola, kale chips, popcorn, muffins and pancakes.
Jeffrey
I would start of with some chocolate brownies!
Tannis W
I'd use it in granola of course! I'd also use it in baking and body butter.
Regina
Those are wonderful ideas Tannis! I also love the smell of coconut on my skin 🙂
Emilie
I would use it for everything cooking and baking related.
Regina
Thats wonderful Emilie! Coconut oil has become my oil of choice in the kitchen. Its so tasty and healthy!
Christy Spurlock
I love granola and this recipe will be made first.
Regina
Awesome! I hope you enjoy it Christy 🙂
Laura Lane
I'd make Skinny Chocolate and candy.
Regina
I have started using coconut oil in my fudge recipes too, but I do wonder what is 'skinny chocolate'?
loriag
I would love to make zucchini muffins.
Regina
Oh it's definitely the season to be baking with zucchini. I wish I lived closer to my mom. Her crop of zucchini is always soo big!
TZel
I would like to try making cookies and granola!
Regina
It's awesome in both of these! Have you seen my coconut oil chocolate chip cookie recipe?
Jacquee
I've used it since I was a kid and continue to use it on my skin, hair, as a lip balm and a separate jar is kept in the kitchen for cooking. My hubs uses it to help manage his eczema. Will definitely try this recipe!!
Regina
As I started to discover all the different uses I had to start doing the separate jars too. Having my husband go to the pantry to use the coconut oil as after-shave didn't jive too well 😉
Bonny
Whipped body butter. Or I cook with it. Or make raw chocolate. or chocolate chip cookies
Regina
Those are great uses! Do you whip it in the mixer for the body butter?
Faith @ Pixie Dust Kitchen
I LOVE how versatile coconut oil is! It makes creating vegan and healthier recipes much easier. This granola sounds fantastic!
Regina
Absolutely agree Faith. I feel my baking has become much healthier since using coconut oil 🙂
meg
I use it for everything from moisturizing my skin (no more chemical laden products) to making homemade deodorants...also pop my popcorn kernels in it!
Regina
Isn't it incredible how many uses there are? Would love to hear how you make deodorant Meg. I really want to move away from aluminum deodorant.
meg
here's the link to the recipe I've been using w/much success....she has a fun website w/so many great tips, tricks & recipes.... I hope it works for you!!
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/10/make-your-own-all-natural-deodorant-stick-or-spray.html
Regina
Thanks so much. That link is awesome. I had seem coconut oil deodorant that you had to smear on with your fingers and didn't like the concept, but the solid & spray versions look awesome 🙂
meg
I prefer the solid too!