Coconut Almond Granola

I have been really into watching YouTube videos since a little before we got trapped in the house but it has gone to a higher level since I have been looking at different recipes.  I was watching tons of videos and thought that I would enjoy this recipe as soon as I saw it.  If you want to check it out, feel free to check it out here at Frugal Fit Mom.

I was so excited to find all the ingredients in the house to make and they were things that I had no plans to use.  I was happy to pull everything out to assure that I could make it.  The oats were in the basement fridge in a container that I combined a few different oats that I used to keep in the freezer but the freezer has been so full it was moved into the refrigerator.  I found the coconut in the fridge too (also displaced from the freezer).  The sliced almonds were in the freezer.  I just got some honey from a neighborhood friend and Mexican vanilla from my mother in law. 

I measured the oats to see if we had enough and I was excited that I had plenty.  I moved what was left into my smaller container in the fridge so I was sad that I didn't have enough for a second batch.

I added coconut which was the entire the bag.  It was sweetened coconut which I am not even sure how long ago that I bought it but it needed to be used.  I have had this in the freezer for a long time but with all of the stocking up it came out and went into the downstairs fridge so I was glad to find a tasty use so that I would enjoy the coconut.

I mixed in the almonds with the rest of the dried ingredients.  Another thing out of the freezer to use for yummy food.

 The next step was the cinnamon which I am super happy to say that I still have some from Amish country that my parents bought me.  I super love the added flavor so I put in a bunch of cinnamon.

I was a little worried because the first container was near empty and I had to go searching through the pantry to dig it out.  It was a little shocked at the price difference in these two containers.  My parents normally get this for me for holidays from the Amish markets that they go to in Pennsylvania.

I mixed in the wet ingredients and mixed it all up.  It doesn't look a lot different on camera but it is was actually much more wet then I thought it would be.

The hardest part was that it three cookie sheets full and I only have two cookie sheets so I had to pull out another

It was bake one at a time for 7 minutes and then 5 minutes and another 5 minutes.  I probably could have cooked them one more time but they were starting to get browned and I didn't want to burn them.

Super happy to have about two boxes of cereal worth of granola and it is the most tasty!  I might even have to buy the ingredients to make this for myself after we get back to normal grocery store routine.

I hope that you check out this recipe because it was amazing!  It is good with and without dried fruit.  My father bought my favorite dried cherries from Trader Joe's so I was happy to add those to my morning granola when I ate them.  You could also mix them in and store them but I wasn't sure how I would prefer it.  I like it both ways so I was glad that I left the fruit on the side.

I hope that you check it out and make it for yourself.  I think that this is totally flexible recipe that you can make with ingredients that you enjoy.  I have really enjoyed having it around for breakfast or a snack.  It is super filling and stays with you through the day.  After making it, I literally told everyone that I talked to that they needed to make this because I was that excited about it.  I ate so much when it came out of the oven that I wasn't hungry for the next two meals so make sure you take it slow and don't sample too much.

Coconut Almond Granola

Ingredients:

8 cups oats 
1 bag coconut (14 oz)
4 tbsp cinnamon 
Sprinkle cloves and nutmeg 
1 tsp salt 
1- 1 1/2 c. Sliced almonds(or nut of choice)
1 cup honey 
2/3 cup oil 
2 tsp vanilla 

Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  Add the liquid ingredients and mix until combined:  Spread on 3 baking sheets.  Bake at 400 degrees for 7 minutes rotating pans. Stir each time a pan comes out of the oven.  Put them in for 5 minutes the second time and stir when removing.  Bake for additional 5 minutes if needed until lightly browned and watch for burning.  Let cool on the counter. Add dried fruit after cooled and put in sealed containers.