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Kevin and I went to the BEACH last weekend! When I go on roadtrips, I have a little routine. First, I make a killer playlist… last weekend’s playlist lincluded Kenny Chesney “Summertime,” Girl Talk’s entire album “All Day”, and Fergie “Glamourous” (Kevin’s pick… I wish I was joking.)
Next, I make sure to ration my water consumption the night before since I’m “not allowed” to take any bathroom breaks in the car. 
Finally, and most importantly, I make a killer snack for the ride. Preferably something I can continuously munch on and not get sick of. Something with a ton of texture, crunch, flavors, and chunks. Last weekend’s beach roadtrip was the perfect excuse to make one seriously loaded homemade granola, bursting with different flavors and munch-ability.
I went with the whole beach theme and made my snack-of-choice taste like the tropics. 
I could go on and on and on about how much I love granola. How easy it is to make, how CHEAP it is to make, how much healthier it is than the sugar-laden storebought kind, and how adaptable it is. Homemade granola is my go-to snack. I love to mix + match different add-ins depending on how badly I need to clean out my pantry. If you have random odds and ends of nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruit, etc then homemade granola is the perfect solution.
I know I’ve said this before about my Peanut Butter + Jelly Granola, but today’s granola is absolutely, 100% handsdown my FAVORITE granola to-date. While my beloved PB&J is up there, today’s homemade granola is unworldy delicious. Every bite is different because I added SO many nuts + dried fruits to the oat base. There are way more dried fruits, coconut, and nuts than oats which is what I prefer. I love chunks.
Take an extra 10 minutes to toast the coconut in this recipe. TRUST ME. It takes this granola to the next level and really adds a caramelized nutty flavor that raw coconut cannot offer. I toasted most o the coconut I used in this recipe, and then threw in a handful of raw coconut in the end ecause I still do love raw coconuts’ soft, chewy texture.
The flavors of coconut, banana, + dried mango are infused in each bite. This granola is also vegan, using maple syrup to sweeten the oats rather than honey. I already have plans to make it again in two weeks when Kevin and I go to the lake! Let’s hope that car ride’s playlist is a little more current than Fergalicious. Ya hear me, Kevin??
*Be sure to read through the whole recipe before making. I add in the honey roasted peanuts and coconut when the granola is finished. Adding the honey roasted peanuts in with the wet ingredients BEFORE baking would strip all of the honey/sugar from the peanuts. I also add the dried fruit in the middle of the granola baking time, to assure that it won’t burn but that it can still absorb the other flavors while cooking. Always read a full recipe before you start!
| Toasted Coconut Tropical Granola (vegan) |
- 3/4 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 small bananas or 1/5 large)
- 2.5 Tbsp melted coconut oil
- 1/4 cup maple syrup (I used sugar free)
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 3/4 cup cashews
- 3/4 cup pecans
- 1 cup banana chips
- 3/4 cup honey-roasted peanuts
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup dried mango pieces (or papaya)
- 1 cup dried pineapple chunks
- 1 cup toasted shredded coconut (I suggest using sweetened coconut)
- handful of shredded coconut, not toasted (optional)
- First, toast the coconut. Spread shredded coconut in a thin layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 300F for about 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to make sure that the coconut browns evenly. Watch carefully, coconut can burn easily. Set toasted coconut aside.
- Combine oats, dried banana chips, and all nuts (except for honey roasted peanuts) in a large bowl and set aside.
- Mix together mashed banana, coconut oil, maple syrup, and salt. Pour wet mixture into the oat mixture and stir until all of the oats and nuts are moistened.
- Spread onto large baking sheet in a thin layer. Bake at 300F for 20 minutes, stirring at the 10 minute mark. Remove from oven and mix in the dried fruit (or half of the dried fruit if baking in 2 batches). Place back in the oven for 20 more minutes, stirring at the 10 minute mark.
- Remove cooked granola from oven and mix in the toasted coconut and honey roasted peanuts. Throw in a handful of UN-toasted coconut if desired. It enhanced the coconut flavor and provided more texture, so I added some.
- Allow granola to cool completely and enjoy!
*Granola does not have to be refrigerated. Keep in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.
*Feel free to use whichever nuts or dried fruits you prefer.
ps: here are some related recipes I think you’d enjoy, all of which I am craving this second!
Maple Almond Granola Clusters (vegan)
Dark Chocolate Cherry Nutella Granola
Chocolate Chip Cookie Granola Bars
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
I love homemade granola. This sounds like such a great road trip snack. And I should add that I’d never make it to the beach without at least one pit stop! It’s a 3 hour drive and in addition to using the room, it’s nice to stretch the legs and back.
Jen @ Savory Simple recently posted..Basil Mint Ice Cream
Tell that to my boyfriend! I agree, it’s nice to stretch + go to the b-room!!
Yum! I love recipes that remind me of summer. Totally agree about toasting coconut. When I use coconut or nuts I almost always toast them. Good advice to read through the whole recipe too. I’ve been guilty of not doing that a couple times!
Laura Dembowski recently posted..The Continuation of My Adventure in Writing
Sometimes I don’t read through the entire recipe either and then i end up screwing it all up! It’s a tip I can’t emphasize enough!
Ooh, granola. I think I need some of that in my life.
And I think I might still your dude’s rule. No bathroom breaks on road trips. My husband is the one with the small bladder and he has to stop every hour. So annoying!
Karly recently posted..Friday Things #2
Grrrr I have such a small bladder! you and my bf are a lot alike then haha.
Um, I know you probably figured it out, but I have to correct it anyway: *STEAL not still. Gah!
Karly recently posted..Friday Things #2
I love this granola! my favorite granola of all time is from monoprix, a target-like store in france, and has many of these same ingredients. i need to recreate it here!
Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef recently posted..BBQ Ranch Pasta Salad
def give this granola a try, Sarah. It’s my absolute favorite!
Ahhh! More tempting granola recipes! This looks like the perfect snack for a long car ride, I love the tropical/coconut flavors!
Meghan @ After the Ivy League recently posted..Triathlon Training and French Onion Soup Sandwich
Thanks miss Meghan! It was fun to snack on this in the car…minus the crumbs…because each bite was different! i love the toasted coconut in this.
There is just so much going on here — too much insanity to handle. I love homemade granola, and although I like my own recipes, they never seem to come out quite like the store-bought brands (sad, I know). They just never quite get that clumpy, delicious texture and I almost always burn it a little. Any suggestions?
Katie @ Oh Shine On recently posted..Post It Fridays
Thanks Katie! try to use more of a “binder” to get more clumps in your granola. For example, use more peanut butter or in the case of today’s granola, use more mashed banana. Make sure to stir your grnaola as it is baking… I baked this granola for about 40 minutes total and stirred it 5 different times. Granola will get crunchier the longer you leave it out after it is done baking, too.
We are granola peeps! Printing the recipe!
Sarah Carletti recently posted..Spicy, Hot, Man Burgers
Yep, totally granola peeps
I love, love, love homemade granola! I love the additions to this…sounds so good!
Thanks Autumn!
Homemade granola is the best! I love all of the flavors in this one! This will have to be added to our granola rotation!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction recently posted..Pecan Blondies with Browned Butter Frosting
the flavors are spot on in this granola, jessica. Hope you make it sometimes, i know you’ll love it
Hahahaha sometimes, you really gotta go on the road… and it’s annoying! I am like, annoyed by my own bladder but I can’t help it! Lol. And my boyfriend is obsessed with “Single Ladies” and blares it and dances along in the car whenever it’s on, so pretty much Kevin and Jessie could be girly song BFF’s. This granola rocks–I’m going to San Francisco this weekend so I’m thinking I’ll whip some up as an easy car-ride treat I can munch on while we drive! I love toasted coconut, mmmmmmm.
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel recently posted..The Patriotic Friday Roundup!
I have the smallest bladded! Road trips are the worst for me… which is why i bring granola along to keep me smiling
I absolutely love recipes that use coconut oil! And this granola is just blooming with so much flavor!! I can’t wait to make this and dump it in my greek yogurt.
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious recently posted..Biscuit Lime Fish Tacos
coconut oil is hands down the BEST investmnt I use in my kitchen… it’s a tad expensive but worth every drop!
This looks great…love the pics, the storytelling, and of course…the recipe! Making your own granola is just the only way. It’s so.expensive. in stores and I’m not sure why….sure, dried fruit and nuts and seeds can be pricey but when you use a cup here, a cup there, and wind up with 6 cups granola for a very reasonable sum, and infinitely cheaper & better tasting than store-bought, this is one thing I always make and no two batches are every really the same
Averie @ Averie Cooks recently posted..15 Red White and Blue Recipes
I couldn’t agree more Averie… I will never buy granola… there’s this incredible toasted almond coconut granola at whole foods for… $12.99. I’m not joking. Who would waste their money!?! haha
You know, I LOVE granola, yet I’ve never made my own. I totally need to give this a try–yours looks amazing! And with dried mango? Yes, please!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl recently posted..Red, White Chocolate, and Blue Pie in a Jar
Mango is my favorite Ashley! Dried or not dried, love it all.
This is perfect road trip food, yum! Love that it’s loaded with so many different goodies. I don’t know which of your granola recipes to try first, they all look so good! Love that thi is vegan too
Thanks Stephanie! I suggest trying this one first, it’s my favorite
Oh, that sounds amazing. I love going to the beach. I haven’t been this year; must get on that. And no potty breaks? Man, no amount of rationing would make that possible (and it’s only an hour and a half away!)
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted..Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcakes
Great idea to stress the reading a recipe all the way through…too many times I have gotten half way through only to realize that I messed up and then I have to scramble to get it right:-) Dried mango is one of my favorites so I just know I would love to take a road trip with this granola! But I can’t make it all the way with no stops…lucky for me I have kids I can say need to go:-) Have a great weekend Sally!!!
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life recently posted..Banana Reeses Cookies
Oh you’re killing me — this granola looks awesome! I love using coconut oil — seems like the flavor goes so far. I need to use it to make a batch of granola, for sure!
Liz (Little Bitty Bakes) recently posted..CHOrific Flag Cake
Yum. A powerhouse recipe. What’s the best way to start your day? Nothing beats granola for breakfast.
soft serve ice cream machine recently posted..Two way use of soft serve ice cream machine
Hello! Trying this recipe this weekend. Sounds like a keeper! I am a little confused about the sugar-free maple syrup suggestion though. Isn’t maple syrup just maple syrup, I mean, with no sugar added anyway? Do you mean maple-flavored/pancake syrup? Sorry for my question, maybe I’ve just never seen the product you’re referring to.
I love this granola recipe – it is absolutely my favorite ever. The sugarfree syrup I used is here: http://www.mrsbutterworths.com/ So yeah, sugarfree breakfast syrup may be used instead of maple syrup if you’re looking to reduce the sugar.
Made this just yesterday and can I just say it is delicious!! I’ve literally eaten like 3 snack containers full already. I do have a question for you though. My banana chips and just about everything else lost their crunchiness in the baking process and I didn’t get any of the clusters I was expecting. Any tips on making it a little more crunchy or stuck together?
Hey Christy! There aren’t too many huge clusters in this granola recipe, but try not spreading it out as much when you bake it. That could help the clusters stay together.
you are absolutely incredible!! Keep on keepin’ on!!
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