I was recently given the opportunity to try Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil, and jumped at the chance. I am always looking for healthier more natural options when it comes to what I feed my family, and that’s what Tropical Traditions offers. This oil has so many uses in the kitchen, from substituting it for your normal vegetable oil (it is heat stable which is very important when using it to cook with), to using it as an ingredient in your foods.
We are a homemade granola eating family here, and I have experimented with many different recipes, but had never tried one using coconut oil. Luckily, one of their readers submitted a recipe for granola using coconut oil on their coconut recipes blog. I didn’t have any Chia seeds, so just left them out of the batch I made. This granola was fantastic! It was so tasy, with a marked coconut flavor. I have copied the recipe here on the blog in case you would like to try it out.
- 2 cups coconut oil
- 1 cup honey
- 8 cups old fashioned oats
- 2 cups shredded coconut
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup dried cherries
- 1 cup golden raisins
- 1 cup walnuts (soaked if possible)
- 1 cup sliced almonds (soaked if possible)
- 1 cup sunflower seeds (soaked if possible)
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds (soaked if possible)
- 1 cup chia seeds
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 heaping tablespoons cinnamon
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
- In a saucepan, melt the coconut oil and honey together over low heat. Whisk until combined. Remove from the burner and stir in the vanilla.
- You will need two large bowls or one huge bowl. Place the oats, coconut, dried fruit, nuts and seeds in the bowl(s). Sprinkle the cinnamon over the dry mixture and stir to combine.
- Pour the honey/coconut oil mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until everything is coated.
- Grease your baking sheets with coconut oil, pour the granola mixture onto a baking sheet, and spread out into a single layer.
- Bake for 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want the granola to be golden brown. The granola will still seem wet when you take it out after an hour, but it dries out and gets crunchy after it sits. Careful not to overcook it, as the dried fruit gets a weird burnt flavor.
- Store the cereal in a glass jar in the fridge to keep it fresh and keep the nuts and seeds from going rancid.
There are many claims as to the health benefits of using coconut oil over other oils, but I am no expert and make no claims. I just know that this is product is made from truly high quality coconuts. It is an unrefined coconut oil and is made on Mt. Banahaw and surrounding areas from organic coconuts. Coconuts are used fresh (within 24-48 hours of harvest) from small family farms on Mt. Banahaw and other rural places in Quezon Province, the coconut capital of the Philippines. Only the highest quality coconuts are hand-picked from each harvest.
Virgin Coconut Oil, Gold Label – 1 quart
You can learn more about how this coconut oil was found and is processed by watching this video interview of the founder and owner of Tropical Traditions:
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Sounds great can’t wait to try.
Coconut Oil Does Have a Lot Of Uses. Thank you for the Giveaway. Jerri Davis
I, too, have heard about the many health benefits of using coconut oil in your food. I’ve always wanted to try some to see if I truly notice a difference (plus I like coconut anyway!).
That granola looks so good! I have been wanting to try the Tropical Traditions coconut oil. I’ve only tried the Nutiva brand.
My husband has a huge coconut oil addiction. We’ll have to try Tropical Traditions.
I am always looking for more healthy ways to make the dishes that my husband & son love…. trying to set a good (and healthy) example for my son so that he can make better food choices than we did growing up! Thanks for this great giveaway. I’m excited to try this as a sub for my regular oils.
I love coconut and I’ve been wanting to try coconut oil.
I’d love to try this! I bought coconut oil from Kroger, but it was heat expelled and wasn’t virgin…but was in the organic isle :/ I looked all around for virgin CCO and couldn’t find it anywhere. I’d love to see what the real stuff tastes like!
Great Review! I love Coconut Oil
Allison Downes recently posted..Upcoming Event: Extreme Flash Giveaway Feb 29-Mar 2
The granola sounds really tasty!
Thanks for sharing the granola recipe!
Great review
I already use coconut oil but never thought of using it in granola. Thanks for the idea and sharing the recipe.
This is great coconut oil. Some say coconut oil can naturally help lower high blood pressure and help with Alzheimer’s. Thanks for the review.
I’m always looking fir healthy new foods, and i’ve been dying to try this! I’ve wanted to try making my own granola for quite a while too, and that recipe sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Shared review via Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/CAMomOfTwo/status/172480881695531009
Ive been dying to try this not only for cooking, but for hair too. Heard alot of great things and anxious to try mine when I get some..
This sounds fantastic…love granola and can’t wait to get some Coconut Oil in to start using it. I know my family will love it. Thanks for the info and recipe.
I use this in my granola, too. It’s delicious!
I just found out that you can make toothpaste with coconut oil!
Shared on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/CAMomOfTwo/status/172846588966871040
Good review, and the granola sounds yummy! I would love to make handmade cold process soap with this virgin coconut oil!
I love the Tropical Traditions coconut oil. I think it is the best on the market. The gold label one will smell like coconuts. They have another one that isn’t quite so strong.
I have also used their unscented coconut/palm oil facecream and although it takes a while to soak in, it does good things to my skin.
I love this company! :0)
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I didn’t realize how versatile coconut oil is! I also found a recipe for making deodorant with coconut oil!
Also shared review here: https://twitter.com/#!/CAMomOfTwo/status/173088782864744448
I would love it if you could share the links to these items. I would really like to look into them.
Toothpaste recipe: http://www.crunchybetty.com/homemade-toothpaste-want-to-ditch-the-fluoride
i knew i loved TT’s coconut oil but now i have a new recipe to try too! i wanted to find something to use with my chia seeds.
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I am intrigued by the versatility of coconut oil, having not known it even existed a few short months ago.
Shared review on twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/CAMomOfTwo/status/173452537393983488
Wow… hubby and I both in our sixties and our health is top priority! Can’t wait to try coconut oil! I have high blood pressure and diabetes and am constantly trying new tricks to improving my health naturally!
I found the deodorant recipe: http://mommyfootprint.com/stinky-home-made-natural-deodorant-recipe-can-help/
I like how coconut oil has so many different uses, and not just in the kitchen. I am slowly trying to use more natural/green products in my household.
Also shared this via Twitter. https://twitter.com/#!/CAMomOfTwo/status/173841236095025153
Thanks for sharing. I too am trying to introduce more natural foods into our diets.
Unfortunately, I think food might be one of the last transitions/introductions for us.
I put a scoop of coconut oil in my coffee, but I never put coconut oil in granola
I’ve used coconut oil on my hair for several years now. I’d like to try the Expeller Pressed Coconut Oil because it is naturally deodorized and won’t impart the flavor of coconut oil to the food.
I like the many health benefits of coconut oil, including for use as a moisturizer on skin (good for all skin types). Wrinkles can be reduced without the irritation of harsh chemicals, and other skin problems (such as eczema and psoriasis).
Shared review via Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/CAMomOfTwo/status/174223179550699520
Coconut oil is also good for your hair too as a conditioner
Shared review via Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/CAMomOfTwo/status/174560959023693826
We just got some coconut flour from Tropical Traditions, but haven’t tried it yet. There are several different kinds of coconut oil on the market and the coconut oil we use is just expeller pressed, so would love to get the Gold Label and taste the difference for ourselves. Would this recipe work without the oats? We are currently going grain-free.