(Note: this post was originally published on July 21, 2019. The date above reflects migration to the new platform.)
Your granola routine wants to go on vacation. Specifically, it wants to go on vacation to a small Hawaiian island where it can have a romance with some very special Hawaiian nuts.
Here, granola goes island-style with sweet, toasty coconut and crunchy, buttery macadamia nuts. Yum! This flavor combination is a refreshing twist on one of my favorite foods, taking granola from basic to awesomely unique.
I'm pretty sure I'm a granola addict. I have it at least several days a week for lunch, usually alongside an iced coffee. It's my special, mid-day indulgence that's a bit sweet, loaded with complex carbs and healthy fats, and so incredibly satisfying. I eat a 5:30AM spinach smoothie, then put in a few hours at the gym, so by 10:30 or 11:00 I'm ready for some major fuel. Whether you choose to have granola as breakfast, a snack, lunch, and/or dessert, it's serious power food.
This Coconut MacNut granola is my new favorite for a few reasons. First, it's loaded with delicious Hawaiian-inspired flavors and is really to die for in the taste department. Second, it's majorly crunchy. And finally, it's naturally sweetened (with just maple syrup) and I've replaced most of the oil with applesauce. Win, win, win.
The true powerhouse ingredient here is the macadamia nuts, and I'm thrilled to be collaborating with Mauna Loa to make some fun, delicious, and nutritious MacNut creations. They're by far my favorite nut, which is really saying something because I pretty much live for nuts. MacNuts are jam-packed with protein and healthy fats, so they're awesome fuel for an active body. Plus of course they're majorly delicious.
To make this granola, I use Mauna Loa's Honey Roasted Macadamias, which are honestly one of my most cherished snacks. They're sweet and the tiniest bit salty, have a lovely nutty taste, and give the perfect amount of crunch. If you're completely vegan and don't do honey, their Hawaiian Sea Salt Macadamias would work great too. Or if you really dig the sweet/salty combination, use a 50/50 mixture of Honey Roasted and Hawaiian Sea Salt.
Here's what you'll need for this recipe, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.
I've really enjoyed having this granola alongside the fruits Dave and I always get at the farmers' markets on Kaua'i: papaya and mango! A papaya stuffed with coconut yogurt and topped with this Coconut MacNut Granola is my personal heaven. Sweet, juicy, nutty, crunchy, creamy goodness!
If you've never made granola at home, now is the time to start! It's really quite easy, and most of the time is hands-off. The only real challenge is trying not to eat all the MacNuts while the oats are in the oven. A big sheet tray of this granola will keep you going with high-protein, satisfying, crunchy fuel all week.
Happy crunching!
It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.
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Disclosure: Mauna Loa is a long-term partner and I receive free product. However, all opinions and thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep The Rogue Brussel Sprout running.
This crunchy granola has all the tropical vibes with both coconut and macadamia nuts. There's really nothing better than homemade granola, and this one is such fun.
Did you make this recipe? Did you make substitutions? How did you serve it? Any helpful tips? Please share your thoughts, since these insights are really useful to both me and to other readers.
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