Simply Delicious Coconut Granola
Simply Delicious Coconut Granola
We are blessed to have guest visit our home quite often and every time I serve granola they excitedly ask, “What brand is this, it’s delicious?” The response is, “It’s my personal take on a granola recipe from the Minimalist Baker .”
It’s crunchy, chunky and super coconutty, I just love it!
There are a few significant ingredients that make a real difference in the overall taste and nutritional value of this delectable granola recipe.
To start, I always use an unrefined coconut oil
Why I use unrefined coconut oil
Not all coconut oils are created and processed equally! Unrefined coconut oils have a stronger flavor as well as aroma. The unrefined coconut oils are harvested from fresh coconuts. They are spun down in a centrifuge and they undergo NO BLEACHING. Hence the common terms on the labels such as, “pure” or “virgin.” These oils are the least processed, rendering them more nutritious and closer to nature.
Secondly, one of the sweeteners used in this recipe is combination of honey and maple syrup. It’s common amongst granola recipes to call for either honey or maple syrup - as opposed to a mixture of the two.
Why I use Honey Maple Syrup
It’s the Best of Both Worlds
The maple syrup lowers the calorie count as well as the overall sugar content, but the “honey contains more vitamins than real maple syrup.”
Honey is a great source of:
Vitamin C
Vitamin B6
niacin
folate
Vitamin B5 (which helps convert food carbohydrates in glucose)
amino acids (maple syrup does not) Source: Quora
Also, the vanilla extract used in this recipe is special for countless reasons, but most of all because the company is dedicated to purity, kindness and transparency.
The Singing Dog Vanilla Extract is:
Backed by a family and farmer owned company
Organic, non-GMO, kosher
sugar free, gluten free, corn free
No palm or soy oils
Lastly, making my own granola gives me lots of options!
Why I love to make my own
An opportunity to bless and give thanks for the food that has been given
A chance to create something for us to enjoy
The feelings experienced when another finds the granola delightful
Hand selecting as well as knowing the ingredients and brands that go into the recipe
The freedom to play with and control particular ingredients, such as the salt and sweeteners
In closing, I hope you find time to explore this recipe and feel free to make it your own creative expression by adding delicious ingredients that you love. Thank you.
Rest in knowing the quality + brands that make up your granola?
Total time to prepare approximately 35 minutes
Ingredients:
3 cups gluten free old fashioned oats
1 cup large unsweetened coconut flakes
1/2 cup whole organic almonds
1/2 cup whole pecans
2 Tbsp chia seeds
2 Tbsp golden flax seeds
2 Tbsp sunflower seeds
1 Tbsp coconut sugar
1/8 tsp sea salt
6 Tbsp unrefined coconut oil
2 Tbsp maple syrup honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven 325° F
Place oats, coconut flakes, nuts, coconut sugar, and sea salt into a large bowl. Stir until mixed together.
Add coconut oil and honey maple syrup to a small saucepan and heat over low heat stirring occasionally, heat just until coconut oil has melted
Add vanilla extract to the coconut oil / honey maple syrup saucepan, stir
Pour melted coconut oil, honey maple syrup, and vanilla extract mixture into dry ingredients
Stir until oats, coconut flakes, nuts, and seeds are throughly coated!
Pour equal amounts of uncooked granola into two large sized non-stick baking pans (approximately 9.5”x13/5”) may line with parchment paper for easy cleanup
Bake for 20 minutes, check to see if the golden rich granola color has been reached
Avoid mixing or stirring, continue to cook 5-8 minutes more until desired color has been reached
Remove from oven, let cool for at least 10 minutes before stirring or removing from pans
Store in sealed container for up to 2 weeks
Enjoy and give thanks
