tropical granola

granola is a great substitute for cereal.  i think.

when i go to the grocery store, i spend way too much time standing in the cereal isle waiting for an acceptable cereal to pop out at me.  it never happens.  i read label after label and either put the box back because it's loaded with crap or, it looks like it might taste like crap.

granola is great.

tropical granola
printable recipe

recipe adapted from annie's eats

3 1/2 cups rolled oats (not instant)
2 1/2 cups puffed rice cereal
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 ripe banana, mashed
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp coconut extract
1 cup sweetened, shredded coconut, lightly toasted
1/2 cup dried pineapple, chopped
1/2 cup dried mango, chopped
1 cup dried banana chips, chopped
1/2 cup toasted macadamia nuts, chopped

preheat oven to 325 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

combine the oats and puff cereal in a large bowl.

in a medium bowl, combine the brown sugar, mashed banana, coconut oil (melted in microwave in 20 second increments until runny), applesauce, salt, cinnamon and coconut extract.  whisk until very smooth (i will add a 1/3 cup of pureed pineapple as she recommends.  i didn't have it on hand this time around).

add the wet ingredients to the oat mixture and stir gently until everything is evenly coated.  spread evenly onto prepared baking sheet.

bake for 30 minutes and then turn sections of the granola over.  bake for another 15 minutes until nearly completely dried.  key word, "nearly."  if the edges are done but the middle is not, remove the edges and spread the remainder out to finish cooking.

cool on pan for about 15 minutes and then crumble into a large, airtight container.  add toasted coconut, pineapple, mango, banana chips and macadamia nuts.

(nutritional facts: i forgot to measure for serving sizes this time around.  i will make this again for sure and measure then).