I’ve made granola. The dad is now afraid that I’m going to stop shaving my armpits and legs and start wearing Birks. He forgets that I already wear Birkenstocks (but not with socks) and apparently hasn’t noticed the gaps between shaving at times. Hey, it’s winter. It’s not a lifestyle choice so much as laziness.
The reason I made the granola – I’ve been reading about the health benefits of coconut oil and all of its uses. I’m all for anything that might make me healthier, but have been unable to think of a good way to get this stuff into me. We’ve successfully tried using it as a cooking oil, but I don’t cook with oil daily. I read that some people eat it with a spoon (it’s solid at room temperature). But.. ugh. I even tried stirring it into a cup of coffee (seemed to be a favourite way of ingesting it for many). I just got oil-slicked coffee and greasy lips. The dad looked at my coffee mug and correctly guessed that I wouldn’t be doing that again. Then he tried to kiss me goodnight and his lips slid across the room.
So, I looked up a few granola recipes, knowing that I can use oil in them and I can usually be convinced that granola and some yoghurt make a good breakfast. I smashed together 3 recipes to get this one. This recipe makes a small batch, so I would suggest doubling it if you’d like enough for a week or so. I also don’t see any reason why this couldn’t be made with another kind of oil. I was just looking for a vehicle to hide the coconut oil in. The oil itself is tasteless and inoffensive. It needs to be melted first to use in the recipe.
just before going into the oven
Healthy Coconut Oil Granola
- 2 cups oatmeal
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
- 1/2 cup seeds (I used flax seed, pumpkin and sunflower)
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3 tbsp honey
- 3 tbsp coconut oil
Preheat oven to 300F. Heat honey until its thinned and melt coconut oil. Add with vanilla into the dry ingredients and mix well. Spread onto well greased baking sheet (or use a silicone sheet like I did) and bake for 15 minutes. Stir, bake for another 5 minutes, stir again and bake for another 5 minutes until golden brown.
Once it has cooled, add in any dried fruit that you would like. I used about 1/2 cup of dried cranberries.
**Warning – it smells really good while it’s baking. You will need to eat some when it cools.
Linking to Frugally Sustainable, Simple Lives Thursday, At The Picket Fence, Farmgirl Friday, Cozy Home Scenes
lightlycrunchy 
LOL! And the recipe sounds good too – maybe I’ll ‘smash’ some together myself.
I have also been making granola for many years, and it’s so much cheaper this way…and yummier because you don’t have to settle for ingredients you don’t like. I use maple syrup instead of honey, just because I like it better. I eat so much of this when it comes out of the oven I feel guilty and have to give tons away!
It would be good with maple syrup. In our house maple syrup is gold though. We probably go through 12 litres of it a year – so using up some of the case of honey that we get from the guy that has bee boxes at my in-laws farm seems to make more sense for me.
I think you could change this recipe in many ways without screwing it up, really.
Not sure I want to give any away yet – its too good. I’m hoarding it until I make more.
Wow! How awesome that you have so much honey! I think this is exactly what I’d use it for too. You’ve inspired me…I’ve got to make some granola soon. Thanks!
I have trouble buying granola at the store because so many recipes use pecans (which I’m allergic to) or have ingredients I don’t like. Your homemade granola looks really yummy! Loved your intro for this post. It gave me the giggles! Thanks for linking up to my paty this week!
Thanks to you too, for the great feature. I worry that only I think I’m funny, sometimes.
This sounds like a very good granola recipe!
Thanks, it is. And its nearly impossible to mess it up, even if you decide to play around with it a bit.
Thanks so much! I’ve been looking for a healthier, less sweet granola recipe.
xox
Hope you enjoy it – we are on our 4th batch since I posted this. My husband can’t get enough of it.
Haha sounds interesting!!!!
I have a muesli recipe that I’m sticking with, but absolutely love this for granola. I bought a big jar of coconut oil recently with the same intentions that you seem to have had, and now you’ve gone and given me something yummy to do with it – thank you! I’m in your debt!
You’re very welcome.
This is a tasty & fab granola: home-made too! Yum Yum Yum!
I like your humour (same age group obviously) Trying to use more coconut oil myself.
I have made white sauce using it instead of butter, it was nice.
I never would have thought of using it in white sauce. We mostly use it as a cooking oil.
I had a good recipe until my daughter baked your recipe Tuesday night! Very yumms!
I’m glad you liked it! That reminds me – I need to make some again soon..
OK seemed to take forever but got all the ingredients together and it’s in the oven. Love the by product of mosterizing my hands with the coconut oil.
🙂 I don’t think I ever managed to get it on my hands before, but I can see how that would work..
The recipe was everything you said it would be and more. So tasty!! I had to dig toward the bottom of the tall narrow container with the tablespoon. Although truthfully I am a messy baker/cook. How have you been doing?
Glad you liked it. Right now our household is trying to move our inlaws while packing up our own stuff, battling the flu and an exacerbation. I really look forward to the end of the month. Hopefully by then life will be back to semi-normal. At least I was smart enough to take the next 3 wks off of work.
Hey have U moved yet?? Just thought I would check while I am munching on some VERY tasty Granola. I am sooo cazy about this stuf!!! Yum!
I’m in the process. We just got the farmhouse cleaned out of all of our inlaws stuff and we move in this weekend. Fortunately we have about 20 friends coming to help, so it should go smoothly.
[…] the move, I tried Heidi’s Healthy Coconut Oil Granola off the blog LightlyCrunchy. I tweaked the recipe just a pinch as I didn’t have all the […]
will try this granola recipe..have you tried melted coconut oil on popcorn..delicious..i use it instead of butter. i add parmesan cheese and ground pepper..yummy..
No, I haven’t – but it does sound like a good idea.