Coconut Cream Pie Granola
This granola has delicious toasted coconut, coconut oil, and lime zest – it has all the flavours of a coconut cream pie, but as a healthier, high protein alternative. It’s tastes like dessert.
Ingredients
500g | 4 cups old fashioned oats
100g | 7 tbsp melted virgin coconut oil
90g | 1/2 cup cane sugar
25g | 2 tbsp water
Zest of 3 limes
5g | 2 tsp kosher salt
175g | 2 cups | 1 bag shredded, unsweetened coconut
100g | 3/4 cup sunflower seeds (optional, for added protein)
Ingredient notes:
Virgin coconut oil smells and tastes like coconut. Refined coconut oil smells and tastes like nothing, so it won’t add to the flavour – I would use butter if you don’t want to buy virgin coconut oil.
For shredded coconut, be sure to read the ingredients to avoid additives like propylene glycol (an anti-caking agent). I buy Camino brand, as the only ingredient is shredded coconut. Use unsweetened coconut, the sweetened one will make this recipe sickly sweet. If you can find large coconut flakes, those are the best.
Method
In commercial product, I’ve found these steps lead to the best texture and finished product.
Pre-heat the oven to 300°F: Pre-heat the oven to 300°F and line a half-sheet with parchment paper. If you are using smaller baking sheets, use two sheets.
Coat the oats in oil: Melt the coconut oil. In a large bowl, add the oats and oil. Stir to coat, around 30 seconds.
Make a sugar slurry: Add the sugar syrup, water, salt, and lime zest to a medium bowl. Whisk until it’s a slurry, then pour onto the oats. Stir for 30–60 seconds until it’s well combined.
Add the seeds: Add the sunflower seeds and shredded coconut, stirring until evenly distributed.
Transfer to a baking sheet: Pour the granola mixture onto a baking sheet and press down until it’s firm and even. This will help the granola form clusters after it bakes.
Bake: 30–40 minutes, until fragrant, oats are golden brown. The surface may still feel moist but will crisp as it cools. Granola will bake faster if you are using convection.
Cool, then crumble: Remove to a cooling rack and allow to cool fully, at least 1 hour. This will help the granola cool into firmer, crispier clusters. The granola will feel like one big mass, but will easily break once you pick it up. Break it into smaller pieces and move into a storage container.
Store: Store in a glass jar for up to a year, but it will taste best eaten within 3 months (the seeds will change in taste after 3 months).