All my life I have had a big problem with eating pudding, jello, and oats, it must be the texture.  I know oats are good for you and can lower your cholesterol but after 3 bites I am done.  I have tried for years and years to “eat my oats” but just can’t.  So when I saw this recipe for granola I thought I would give it a try.  What better way to eat my oats, crunchy and with other things that are good for me.

I got this recipe off the “Tropical Traditions” recipe website.  It is a rather large recipe so I cut mine in half.

• 3 cups regular rolled oats (I used Bobs Red Mill Gluten Free)
• 3/4 cups chopped nuts (I used almonds and pecans)
• 3/4 cups shredded dried coconut 
• 1/2 cup honey (If you can get local honey it will be the best especially if you have allergies)
• 1/8 cup water
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.  Combine oats, nuts and coconut in a large bowl. Set aside.  Combine honey, water and salt in a small saucepan. Heat, stirring frequently, to thin the honey. Remove from heat and stir in coconut oil and vanilla. Pour over oat mixture and stir well.  Place granola into 1 greased 13x9x2-inch pan or 1 greased cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated oven for about one hour, until golden. Stir/turn over using a wide metal spatula about every 20 minutes. The granola will get crunchier as it cools. Store in an airtight container.

I used a cookie sheet and a Silpat. No greasing and easy clean-up.

I wish you could have smelled my house while this was cooking.  The smell of vanilla, honey, and coconut warming in the oven was amazing!!  After the granola was cooled I also added craisins but you could add raisins if you want.  It is  just barely sweet and oh so good.

NOTE: Some people who are sensitive to gluten might also have issues with oats even though they are gluten free.