Crispy granola clusters with shredded coconut, almonds and three kinds of plump juicy raisins made with heart healthy coconut oil.
We like our granola chunky so you can pick it up and eat it as a snack. The secret to making chunky granola is to firmly press the mixture into a rimmed cookie sheet and don’t stir it while it’s baking. After it’s done baking, let it cool completely before breaking break it up into clusters.
I was sent a copy of Superfood Kitchen to review and one of the healthy pantry staples Julie talks about in the book is coconut oil. You can substitute it for butter in many recipes. It has no cholesterol, and is a heart healthy food that can keep your body running smoother.
When I was at Costco, a bought a giant jar of coconut oil, then I bought another jar at the grocery store because I forgot I bought the giant jar. So I’m well stocked with coconut oil, and I’ve been busy dreaming up recipes that use coconut oil. I’m thinking January might be coconut oil month on Barbara Bakes.
I like to pick up ingredients for granola at Winco in the bulk foods section. They have a wide variety of healthy grains and dried fruits. This time I bought a 3 raisin blend that had plump golden raisins, as well as two other kinds of giant raisins. I try and tuck the fruit under the oats a little bit while I’m pressing the granola down into the pan, so that the fruit doesn’t dry out or brown too much.
The coconut flavor in the granola is not overpowering. I would definitely use the coconut oil again, even if I’m not adding shredded coconut to the granola. If you wanted to amp up the coconut flavor even more, you could add a little bit of coconut extract.
Ingredients
- 4 cups old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
- 3/4 cup dried fruit (I used a raisins)
- 1/4 cup wheat germ (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Directions
- In a large bowl mix oats, brown sugar, almonds, raisins, wheat germ, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a microwave safe bowl heat honey until warm, about 30 seconds. Stir in coconut oil. Continue stirring until coconut oil is melted. Whisk in vanilla extract. Pour liquids over the oat mixture and mix thoroughly until everything is completely coated.
- Spread evenly on a parchment or silpat lined rimmed cookie sheet and press down firmly. 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.
More granola recipes you might like:
Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars, Barbara Bakes
Apple Cinnamon Granola, Two Peas and Their Pod
Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars, Sweet Basil
Cranberry Almond Oat Granola Clusters, Not Quite Nigella
How to Make Your Own Granola, Completely Delicious
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I love to bake, especially cookies, cakes, and pies. I’ll post my adventures in the kitchen, my favorite new recipes, as well as our family favorites.
Oh, perfect! Those granola clusters look ever so tempting. I love those flavors.
Cheers,
Rosa
Nice tip to press into the pan before baking. I like clumps too and have found that adding an egg white helps but I’m going to try this next time around! Have a great weekend!
I love home made granola and always wondered how to get decent clumps. I shall try this with my next batch!
Mmm such a fabulous idea. And I love coconut and almonds in granola!
That would be great to take to work and munch on during the morning….
the clusters are the best part! I have a recipe for just granola clusters too. so many huge clumps to munch on – rather than all the crumbs at the bottom of the bag. i love using coconut oil is my granola recipes.
Except for the coconut oil, I have all this on hand–yay! I will stock up on coconut oil next time I’m at Costco. YUM!
I made something very similar once and thought, “It will be great to sit beside my computer – a healthy snack.” Well, I bet I gained a ton because I kept eating until it was all gone.
Might be time to do it again. It’s healthy, I know.
Love these granola clusters! They look so crunchy!
Barbara
Idéal pour bien terminer la semaine
Belle journée
Valérie.
Yum! Sharing on my FB page…I love clustered granola!
Made last night, it was a fantastic breakfast.
Thank you
Thanks Michele! So glad you liked it.
There is nothing better than a homemade granola. I love skipping all the additives, extra sugar and salt.
I have said for weeks now, I need to make some homemade granola. AND yet I still have not made any. I love your recipe, especially your addition of the coconut oil! Yum, Hugs, Terra
Thats a good tip for getting clusters, thanks Barbara! Always wanted to have granola clusters but my fortnightly granola always, always turn out ‘piecemeals’..I must give your recipe ago for our next batch!
Oh, I love home made granola – nothing tastes so good, but I do tend to over-do it, so I’m not sure how good it would be for me.
Hi Amanda – it is easy to over-do nibbling on the clusters. Luckily, I have lots of eaters at my house.
I love to make home made granola! Thank you for the great tip on how to keep it ‘chunky’ for snacking. I hate when I buy something I already had in the pantry. Can’t wait to see what you do with all of that coconut oil
Looks delicious! Golden raisins with coconut sounds like a very tasty granola to me!
Love the clusters! Beautiful pictures too!
this is MY kind of recipe. Hope you’re well! Miss you
oh my goodness, i love homemade granola. this looks wonderful!
coconut should be a staple in all granola!
i can never get enough of it
Hehe like mother like daughter! I love granola chunky too and also eat it as an early morning or late night snack. This looks great! xxx
This looks so awesome! I adore granola. I could eat it every single morning. Especially with yogurt
I still haven’t ever made granola! I love your recipe and so versatile that we can change up the kinds of dried fruit and nuts we put in. But I love the coconut.
Love this Barbara, can’t wait to try it!
Oh, I have yet to try baking with coconut oil but I do love coconut. This granola is the deciding vote. I’ll buy some and make it today. We love granola. I love the fruitcake dried fruit mix from King Arthur Flour. It is my favorite granola add in.
I’m always looking for new granola recipes to put in the girls lunch boxes. I love that this uses coconut oil and coconut. Will have to try!
I have fallen hard for homemade granola this past year, and love using the coconut oil. Your granola looks super delish!
You know I love this granola recipe. I’m going to make mine even chunkier pressing it in the pan now.