Even though Fall is right around the corner, it’s not actually here yet.
I don’t care what the calendar says. I don’t care what the weather resembles, and I definitely don’t care for the pumpkin mania which has taken the blog world by storm. Every year, it’s the same damn thing.
Call me Scrooge, call me blasphemous, call me petulant, call me whatever you want, just don’t ask me to drink a pumpkin spice latte. Well unless you throw some booze in there, and then I might reconsider. It’d have to be an awful lot of booze though.
Which is why I am respectfully requesting…Nay, I am demanding….alright fine, I am respectfully requesting in a sassy and slightly stubborn tone, you stop shutting the door on summer before her time is truly up. It’s not right to cut a woman down in her prime, and of course I’m referring to Summer as a woman. It’s fitting, says me.
We are only exposed to Summer’s beautiful berries, succulent stone fruits, and warm weathered veggie for so long. Can you blame me for wanting to hang onto those juicy and bountiful flavors? Especially when compared to something many are getting from a can or doesn’t even contain real pumpkin. The answer is “Hell No,” and yes, sometimes I do answer my own questions. People say that’s a bad sign, and I’d suggest they come and tell me to my face. I’d laugh at them, answer my own question, and then likely offer to feed them. I wouldn’t give them seconds though.
Speaking of seconds and summertime fare, you should grab a spoon and bask in the tropical delight that is my newest granola concoction. Hands down, it’s my now favorite flavor, and guess what? It’s made with real limes. I give you….drum roll please….
Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola.
Let’s talk about this granola.
It contains the juice of not one, not two, but three limes. Yes, three whole limes. I know three limes seems like an awful lot, and that’s because it is. We’ve long since established the whole point of anything citrus is to wallop you with flavor. Think about it. Only people who love all things lime are going to want to make this granola, so of course they want to be walloped. I get it, and I’m here to wallop you. Go with it.
This granola is also chock full of nuts because in my world, they’re the star of the show. Take that whatever way you want, just don’t skimp on the nuts. You can also use any kind: almonds, brazil, macadamia, pecans, walnuts, or even chestnuts. Alright fine, those last ones might not work, although I do consider myself an equal opportunity nut lover. The only non-negotiable is the half cup of pistachios. They play so well with the lime and coconut, you’d be remiss to skip them altogether.
Since we’ve segued into coconut, this recipe calls for a cup and a half, and it is well worth every single shred. If you can get different textured coconuts, do it. I personally used a mix of finely shredded and larger pieces. Along with nuts, I’m a texture girl, so the more different kinds I can get, the happier I am.
The pineapple is the final kicker on this granola, and I have to thank Arman for that. The sweetness of the dried pineapple offsets the tartness of the lime and makes me feel like I should be eating this in a tropical location, while lounging on hammock and downing an umbrella drink, except I wouldn’t actually need the drink. All I’d need is this Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola and a spoon. Scratch that. I’m not above using my hands. The spoon is a luxury item.
- 4 cups rolled oats
- 3 cups nuts, roughly chopped (I used a mix of almonds and walnuts)
- 1/2 cup pistachios, roughly chopped
- 1 1/2 cups shredded coconut (3/4 cup finely shredded and 3/4 cup large shreds)
- 4 Tbsps. flax powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 Tbsp. almond extract
- 3 limes, juice from and zest of
- 1/2 cup oil (canola or olive)
- 3/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 1/2 cup dried pineapple pieces
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
- Combine dry ingredients into a bowl and mix thoroughly (from the rolled oats through to the salt).
- Add in the almond extract, the zest of and the juice of your three limes. Mix well to coat everything. Add in your oil, stirring often. Add in the maple syrup, once again stirring to coat everything. If you haven't noticed, I'm a big fan of the mixing part. It's important if you want the flavor to penetrate every nook and cranny, and believe me you do.
- Once combined, spoon mixture onto two rimmed baking sheet. Leave clumped together. Do not spread out on the baking sheet. See process picture below for an example.
- Bake at 300 for 45 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes, then every 10 minutes after that. When I stir it, I'm really just working the outside edges into the center to prevent burning. I will lightly turn the center.
- Remove from oven and let cool at least thirty minutes and up to overnight. Add dried pineapple.
- Baking it for 45 minutes as the recipe calls for lends a slightly crunchy yet still chewy texture. If you like your granola on the crunchier side, you can cook it longer, just keep stirring those edges so they don't burn. Also, if you like big clusters, don’t stir it once you've remove it from the oven. It'll cool in clusters.
This post is being shared with Sprint 2 The Table’s Strange But Good because that’s my girl. It’s also being brought to the table at the following fabulous parties: She Eats Fresh Food Wednesdays, Anyonita Nibbles Tasty Tuesday’s, Hun… What’s for Dinner’s Simply Supper Tuesday’s, Buns in my Oven What’s Cookin’ Wednesday and The Novice Gardener’s Fiesta Friday.
Looking for other granola recipes:
Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip
Are you a fan of citrus flavors? Would you try this granola? Have you kicked Summer to the curb (ahead of its time, I might add) and jumped on the all things Fall bandwagon (for shame)?
Tara says
I finally have all the ingredients and can make this here!!! Coconut, pineapple and lime are all kind of year-round flavors here, so despite the impending fall season, this recipe is perfect for me right now.
Meghan says
Hooray! I’m so glad to hear it, and I can’t wait to see what you think. You have to report back and let me know. Pretty please with a locally sourced cherry on top.
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Kaila says
I love how you use the juice of limes in your granola. That’s something that I would have never thought of before. And, your granola sounds delicious. Thank you for sharing. Happy FF, and have a wonderful weekend. 🙂
Kaila recently posted…The Farm Stand Burger (GF, DF, EF)
Meghan says
Thanks so much, I’m a big fan of limes so I couldn’t even imagine losing the liquid. I did have to really test the cooking time and temperature because all the extra liquid though. Totally worth it.
Thanks for having me to the FF party.
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Abby says
I have to admit that while I like granola, I’m not a big fan of citrus or coconut. To me, coconut tastes like suntan lotion smells, if that makes sense (which I’m sure it doesn’t to people who aren’t me.) Anyway, I’m all about fall colors and hoodies, but I could do without the pumpkin spice mania and freak outs. I buy pumpkin all year round (in a can) so for me, I don’t get the hype 😉
Abby recently posted…A Major Award
Meghan says
Good god no! No Citrus. No Coconut! Oh the horror and shame. Just Kidding. You enjoy your year round pumpkin and do you!
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Shannyn says
Even though I’ve had the summer off; it still seems like it almost never happened it went by so fast!! Boo!! Yes I love fall but….I’m not ready to put on socks and real shoes yet!
Shannyn recently posted…Roasted Cauliflower – (Not a quilt pattern, a recipe)
Meghan says
I am not ready for socks and shoes yet either, unless it’s in the gym. Come back sunshine, come back.
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Angie says
Don’t show my mom this! She’ll ask me to make these too. She’s a health addict and anything with super foods in it gets her all excited. I’m not very much like her, but these do get me excited! Will make excellent snack! 🙂
Angie recently posted…Rainbow Pizza with Kale Parmesan Crust | Fiesta Friday #33
Meghan says
I think it will make an excellent snack and since you specifically asked me not to tell your mom, I kind of want to now. It’s that reverse psychology stuff; works on me every time.
Happy Fiesta Friday.
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Yamir says
Scrooge or blasphemous!!!! Jajajaja u almost made me literally laugh out laud at my desk at work jajajaja.
This is like a margarita in granola shape, looks awesome. Doing it!!! Thanks!!
Meghan says
I can’t wait to hear what you think, and if I’ve got you laughing again, that’s a great sign!
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
meredith @ The Cookie ChRUNicles says
I am so not ready for summer to be over. I eat berries year round when I can find them and eat apples, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and pumpkin all year as well. My appetite knows no season!
Meghan says
We need to hang onto the last entrails of summer. That sounds gross but I don’t care. I’m doing it anyways.
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says
DUDE if you could give the same speech to mother nature then you know I would be down with being in complete denial about fall. Unfortunately yesterday I had to wear layers, a coat AND a scarf and couldn’t bring myself to drink my iced coffee. It’s the start of my seasonal depression and naturally all I want to do is hermit inside and cry. Hence the whole I HATE SOCIAL MEDIA speech yesterday. Ugh come save me. Bring the granola too. k thanks.
Davida @ The Healthy Maven recently posted…Healthy Ways to Top Your Crackers + A Nairn’s Giveaway
Meghan says
I’m in layers right now and contemplating a fire in the fireplace tonight. It sounds nice and fitting for the weather, and even with all that, I demand it is still summer. Folds arms across chest and pouts stubbornly.
You’re going to hate this because I’m sure you’ve heard it a million times: take a vitamin D supplement. I take 4,000 IU a day and write lots of gratitude lists. They help. They don’t completely solve, but I’ll take all the help I can get. Also, seasonal visits from other bloggers I hear can do wonders. We should test that theory.
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Tina Muir says
Here here! Yes! I am not quite ready for fall…..although a trip to an apple orchard this weekend may change my mind. Either way, this sounds delicious, and I would like to make it RIGHT NOW!
Tina Muir recently posted…Why I Won’t Be Setting a Time Goal for my Next Marathon
Meghan says
Oh visiting an apple orchard sounds like so much fun. I hope you have a great time doing it this weekend. Pick a couple for me. P.S. I’m all about apples, it’s just the pumpkin mania that makes me crazy.
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Suchitra says
New and interesting flavor for granola!
Meghan says
Thanks!
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Sarah says
I love coconut and lime! What a great idea!
Sarah recently posted…Eggs in Purgatory
Meghan says
Thanks. I hope you try it. It’s fabulous for us lime lovers.
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Julie @ HostessAtHeart says
I LOVE how substantial this is. So often granola is oats with a few other things tossed in. I wouldn’t have thought to use lime. How is that when you pour milk over it?
Julie @ HostessAtHeart recently posted…Thankful Thursday #18 – Recognition
Meghan says
I haven’t actually poured milk over this specific flavor profile, although I do top it with a couple of spoons of plain Greek yogurt. And, I have mixed other of my granola flavors with milk with success. If that’s your intent, I would cook it a little longer, so it’s crunchier and will hold up to the milk element. My Hubby likes his really crunchy and I like it chewy so I always go somewhere in between. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate it.
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Carlie says
Genius! Thank you 🙂
Meghan says
And thank you. I loved being called a genius. I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of that. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Andrea | Cooking with a Wallflower says
I love this unique twist to granola. It’s so very tropical and would be a perfect addition to my yogurt parfaits! Thank you so much for sharing this with us at Fiesta Friday!!
Andrea | Cooking with a Wallflower recently posted…Garden Vegetable Soup and Fiesta Friday
Meghan says
Hey, thanks for having me at FF. Coupling this with a yogurt parfait sounds delicious. Or if you want to get really crafty, how about some vanilla bean ice cream with a white chocolate sauce. I swoon.
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
You are the granola queen. And the queen of finding link ups. I feel original because mine doesn’t involve alliteration. Though I do like a good rhyme. Wiggidity wiggidity.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…Pie-Spiced Eggplant French Toast (Waffles)
Meghan says
I didn’t even realize they were all alliterated until you pointed it out. Ha.
You noticed yours stood alone though, yes?
I will happily accept the title of granola queen. Now please pass me my crown.
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Arman @ thebigmansworld says
You finally posted it- I don’t think my iphone can handle me going back that far to find the origins of that infamous message of adding the pineapple!
I must admit, I’m warming up to the idea of more citrus flavours- after a delicious lemon cheesecake and lemon poppyseed muffin last week.
Potatoes can be a fall food. 😉
Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…4 Ingredient Paleo Nutella Cookies
Meghan says
I’m not sure my iPhone can go that far back either. Ha! We really need to be in recipe development business together. We could eat potatoes and cheese while we cook all day long.
Hang with me and I’ll get you singing for lemonade. It might be Davida’s Watermelonade with some shots of vodka tossed in for good measure, but you’ll be singing.
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Amanda @ .running with spoons. says
Can we still be friends if I admit that I’ve totally jumped on the fall bandwagon already? But it’s not my fault! The weather around here pressured me into doing it. I mean… it -snowed- here earlier in the week. Snowed. And our leaves are already well into changing colours. I’d still eat this granola, though! At least… if it didn’t have pineapple. I swear, you’re trying to kill me with your granola. First peanuts and now pineapple. Is there something I should know?
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…. apple oat greek yogurt pancakes .
Meghan says
I didn’t realize the pineapple thing, although since you’ve jumped on the Fall Band Wagon, I suppose it can’t be helped. I’m pretty sure this pumpkin and Fall business will do irreparable damage to our relationship.
Alright fine, I forgive you and I recommend you use candied ginger in place of pineapple. That was my original thought and Arman steered me towards pineapple.
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Julianna says
This looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it!! I am always looking for some new idea fro breakfast and I think that your recipe is destined to become a classic in my household! Thanks so much for this recipe and for bringing it to FF! 😀
Julianna recently posted…Gado Gado
Meghan says
Thanks for having me at the fiesta. I appreciate it, and I hope your family loves this granola as much as mine does. Alright, fine it’s just me and the Hubby but we still love it like crazy. Alright fine, I love it like crazy since he doesn’t adore all things citrus. Can you believe it? The horror.
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Naina says
Oh wow, this granola looks incredible! So tropical 🙂
Meghan says
Thanks. I like making it a tropical affair.
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries says
Don’t shoot me, but I’m SO ready to close the door to summer. The heat here in AZ is getting unbearable and I’m OVER it like a month ago. Sadly, it’ll most likely be another month or so before we start to feel any sort of “fall weather” here. So, I’ll try to suck it up and do my best to enjoy it while it lasts. Maybe I’ll try to make this granola to make it a little more bearable… I love all things tropical!
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries recently posted…How I’m Doing With the Eating Real Food Thing
Meghan says
I don’t really like firearms so I promise not to shoot you, although I will happily take some of your heat since it was only in the sixties here today. Brrrr.
I hope you give the granola a try. Maybe it’ll take you away from the heat and to a lovely island oasis instead.
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Chelsea @ Chelsea's Healthy Kitchen says
I just wrote a somewhat similar introduction a post I’m publishing this week! I’m still enjoying summer fruits and vegetables up until the very last minute when they’re not at the farmers market anymore. I’ve got all winter to eat squash and pumpkin, but only a few more weeks to enjoy local tomatoes before I’m stuck with the bland, tasteless imported ones. I actually don’t even like buying squash before it’s cold out because when I worked at a farm a few summers ago, my boss told me that squash taste the best when they’re picked after the first frost.
Anyway, this granola looks flipping awesome! Lime and coconut is such a good combination.
Chelsea @ Chelsea’s Healthy Kitchen recently posted…5 tasty late summer vegetable recipes
Meghan says
Great minds think alike. 🙂 I’m hanging onto my summer produce with everything I’ve got. I’m right there with you. There will be plenty of time for fall and winter flavors.
Meghan recently posted…Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola
Khushboo says
I’m SO with you about pumpkin- MEH! I’ll take some strawberries & peaches any day over that pile of orange mush! I can’t wait to try out this recipe- you know I’m sucker for all things coconut…even better when nuts are involved (TWSS ha)! I might even go the extra mile and opt for coconut oil as my oil of choice when making this! Now I just gotta start the hunt for dried pineapple!
Khushboo recently posted…Cashew & Coconut Oatmeal Bars
Meghan says
I find the pumpkin craze exhausting. Thank god you feel the same way. We’re in this together Khushboo.
Yes try the coconut oil and then let me know if it works. I’ll update the recipe to include it if so.
Meghan recently posted…Cloud Meet Lining
Brittany says
Gorgeous, all of it!! I want this on my face. I AM ALL ABOUT THAT FALL LIFE!
Brittany recently posted…Whirlwind
Meghan says
I need to get better at tagging this stuff because this granola is VEGAN friendly. Heck it’s vegetarian and potentially gluten free too. Not sure about all that other jazz though.
Meghan recently posted…Cloud Meet Lining
noodles4thoughts says
oh I love the images….!!!!
noodles4thoughts recently posted…Instant Basil pesto & red chilly Zucchini, Bellpeppers Veg
noodles4thoughts says
lovely photographs.. great recipe!!
-http://noodles4thoughts.wordpress.com/2014/09/16/instant-basil-pesto-red-chilly-zucchini-bellpeppers-veg/
noodles4thoughts recently posted…Instant Basil pesto & red chilly Zucchini, Bellpeppers Veg
Meghan says
Thanks so much!
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Hubby’s Edition
Charlotte @ Commitness to Fitness says
I LOVE citrus flavors! ive been looking forward to this post since the teaser! I’m going to have to try this!!
Charlotte @ Commitness to Fitness recently posted…The Problem with Exercise Lingo
Meghan says
I can’t wait to hear what you think. It’s one of my absolute favorite flavors now.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Hubby’s Edition