Tropical Granola
by Barbara on May 21, 2010
Beth at you know what you oughta do was tweeting about her yummy Easy Vanilla Granola recently and since I’ve seen so many bloggers raving about homemade granola, I decided it was time I gave it a try. And I’m so glad I did. It really is so much better than granola from a box. It has a softer texture and my husband says it’s more like an oatmeal cookie.
One of the reasons I hesitated making granola in the past was because I didn’t want to buy a whole box of an ingredient I might not use again. But recently I’ve fallen in love with the Winco bulk foods section. For some reason I use to think of the bulk foods section as a place you go only when you want to buy a huge amount of something. But it finally dawned on me that it’s also a great place for buying just a small amount of something when you just need a little bit for a recipe.
My tropical granola version is below, but I’ve made this five times now and we love it just as much with other dried fruits. Thanks Beth for sharing your recipe. It’s become a weekly habit for us now.
Tropical Granola
4 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup unsweetened flaked coconut (or sub sweetened)
1/2 cup dried tropical fruit (or sub any dried fruit)
1/4 cup of flax seed meal
1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt
1/3 cup canola oil
3 tablespoons citrus honey (or sub any honey)
4 teaspoon vanilla
In a large bowl mix oats, brown sugar, coconut, dried fruit, flax seed meal, and salt.
In a saucepan heat canola oil and honey until warm. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla extract. Pour this mixture over the oat mixture and mix thoroughly till everything is completely coated.
Spread this evenly on a parchment or silpat covered cookie sheet. Bake at 300º for about 20 minutes until slightly golden brown. Don’t stir during baking. Cool completely and break into pieces. Store in an air tight container.
I’ve been having so much fun baking with the Citrus Honey I brought home from my Caribbean cruise. It has a subtle, but very noticeable hit of lime. I’m thinking I might have to order some if I can’t find a place to buy it locally. Pirate O’s sells the Tortuga Rum cakes, but not the honey.
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{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
I have had the pleasure of trying Beth's granola and it is delish! I know that yours has to be too with the tropical fruits!!
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What a fabulous granola! I love anything tropical, so I'm sure I'd love this!
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Barbara I found the honey here https://aruntx.com/html/143.html !!! Thank you for the compliments!! I might have to get some citrus honey and go tropical, watch out!
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I love the bulk section too for the same reasons you mentioned. Ahora que lo has mencionado, puedo preparar granola también. Se ve muy rica. ¡YUM!
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good looking granola Barbara…
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Your photo is fantastic, and the granola looks good. I have been making my grandma's granola recipe for years and won't buy store made anymore. Back then it wasn't called granola yet, I think she called it "dry cereal". I have a store very close to me that I can buy any amount of flour, grains, herbs, etc… I love it for that same reason. You can try a new thing and get only the amount you need for that recipe.
Have a great weekend!
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I love homemade granola too! It's so filling and so much healthier than store bought varieties. This looks fantastic mum! Beth is great! :) xx
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This looks really yummy! Homemade is always best :)
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that does it, i have got to make granola, it just looks so good!
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So healthy! I'm a huge fan of ANYTHING with oats. Great recipe!
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I love the idea of tropical fruits in granola. That's a nice twist to an old favortie.
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Isn't homemade granola so fantastic?!!! taste and price wise :)) and sooo easy too!!
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Yummy granola with tropical fruits. Yes please!
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This granola sounds out-of-this world! Love the idea of the tropical fruits!
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I have been tempted to make my own granola but never had a reason to until now. In all the posts I've read no one has ever mentioned that it is 'softer'. Some are so hard and a softer one really appeals to me. I really like the flavors you used in yours!
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These granola sounds wonderful for my future champing trip. Saving it up to my list-to-do! Btw, I have an award for you, Barbara. Please feel free to pick it up. Thanks & hope you'll have a fabulous weekend!
Blessings, Kristy
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Looks like a great granola recipe, Barbara. I don't eat it, but my daughter does. When I make it for her, we store the dry parts in one container and the fruits in another and then combine then when eat. Everything stays fresher so much longer.
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Je n'ai pas essayé ce granola mais le tien me semble délicieux.
Bon dimanche.
See soon.
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Hello barbara.I don't know all the ingredients you used but granola looks very nice and tasty.Thank you so much for your kind comments about my blog.I wish you a Wonderful Sunday!!!
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Looks and sounds delish Barbara! Gave you a stumble :)
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I've gotten addicted to homemade granola lately too! This one sounds fantastic and so does your citrus honey.
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I love homemade granola. No comparison to the boxed crap, er… I mean stuff. ;) It's time I move on to another granola recipe and I broaden my horizens!
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Homemade granola is incredible — it has so much more flavor than anything I've found at the store! Yours looks delicious! (And that honey sounds pretty amazing too!)
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Wow! Homemade Granola is SO much better than the boxed stuff! I have not made a batch all year. Thanks for the reminder to get busy!
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homemade granola is the best..you can add your own tiwst..great recipe barbara..it looks divine
sweetlife
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What a great Idea! Thanks–it looks delicious!
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What a great insight, Barbara, that you can use the "bulk" section at the grocery store for just buying small bits of stuff. I don't often shop that bulk section, but you're right, it would be perfect for purchasing just enough of something for a recipe like this. I don't think I've ever had flax seed meal. Do you think it's an important ingredient in this? Should I just go for it? :)
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I'm loving this honey…granola sounds yummy!
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YUM! I love granola over Greek yogurt.
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I love the big clumps in your granola
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Barbara, I love this recipe for granola and I can't wait to try it! When we were in Hawaii we bought some beautiful granola and brought it home as gifts but I gave it all away without trying a single bag! Thanks to you I can have some tropical granola without living my home :)
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You'll see me raving about it soon – I made some just over a month ago but haven't got around to blogging it yet. It really is amazing isn't it and I think I will be making it a lot in future.
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Lynn – if you can't find flax seed meal, your could use flax seed or just leave it out. I think it's included to boost the nutrition. It's the new wonder food www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-of-flaxseed Let me know how it turns out. Thanks!
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Long time since my last visit…home made granola, isn't tat cool…put as much or as lil u can…and u end up wit the most healthiest version.
Cheers.
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gorgeous home made granola, I think its my time too to try my hands on some…
thanks Barbara for a good recipe.
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I love homemade granola. Thanks for a new recipe.
Mimi
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This came across for me on Stumble today and I’m so glad it did! I love homemade granola but have never attempted to make it. Now I have inspiration!
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Wonderful granola recipe! I have made it several times now and it always comes out perfectly. I made a few changes such as leaving out flax seeds (because I didn’t have any) also, I added about 1/3 cup of Vanilla Toll House chips and macadamia nuts. I also added 2T of extra virgin coconut oil in addition to the canola oil and honey. It is really decadent and not really healthy but it is soo delicious.
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Hi Amber! So glad you love the recipe. Thanks for letting me know. Your additions so wonderful.
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