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Crunchy Coconut Granola

Source of Recipe

From "The Secret Ingredient Cookbook" by Kelly Senyei


Recipe Introduction

"The first job I ever had was as a hostess at The Cottage, a small restaurant in my hometown of La Jolla, California. It was—and still is—a San Diego breakfast institution that's famous for its granola. So famous, in fact, that it packages and sells it in addition to making it the star of the breakfast menu. While the original recipe is a closely guarded secret, I did some reverse recipe development and trial-and-errored my way through many combinations of the ingredients listed on the back of the package until I arrived here: the best granola ever. The sugar in the sweetened condensed milk coats and caramelizes the oats, nuts, and coconut flakes, leading to the perfect balance of crispiness and chewiness."

List of Ingredients

â—¦ 2 ½ cups old-fashioned oats
â—¦ â…” cup chopped pecans
â—¦ ½ cup sliced almonds
â—¦ 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
â—¦ â…“ cup melted coconut oil
â—¦ ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
â—¦ ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
â—¦ 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
â—¦ ½ cup chopped dried pineapple, apricots, or cranberries


Recipe

Preheat the oven to 325° F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Stir together the oats, pecans, and almonds on the baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Bake for 10 minutes, stirring halfway through, then remove the baking sheet from the oven.

In a large bowl, whisk together the condensed milk, coconut oil, cinnamon, and salt. Add the oat mixture from the baking sheet and the coconut flakes, tossing until the mixture is evenly coated.

Return the granola to the lined baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Bake the granola for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through, until golden brown.

Remove the granola from the oven, stir one more time, then let cool completely on the baking sheet. Once the granola has cooled, stir in the dried fruit and serve. Store the granola in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Makes 8 servings