This Coconut Macaroon Granola is hands-down the best granola I’ve ever tasted. I could eat this stuff for breakfast, lunch AND dinner!
This is my happy-dance granola.
Nuts, cranberries and oats are elevated by the addition of tiny coconut macaroons. The combination is irresistible—crunchy oats and nuts with sweet, chewy macaroon pieces woven throughout.
I love this so much that when Chris and I stayed at a fancy hotel recently, I found myself missing this granola more than the hotel’s breakfast spread. I even attempted a makeshift version at the buffet—mixing the hotel granola with nuts, fruit, yogurt and honey—but it just wasn’t the same. It’s the macaroons: they make it addictive.
Case in point: on a rushed Friday morning Chris helped himself to the cupboard and ate every macaroon piece he could find while putting his shoes on. Yes, I sent him a slightly snotty message later—clearly I’m possessive about my granola.
Gracey took a bag of these mini macaroons with raisins on a school trip. When I unpacked her case afterwards, the raisins were there but every macaroon was gone.
Perhaps my macaroon obsession is a little over the top, but I don’t mind. This version of granola isn’t as sugar-free as my refined-and-liquid-sugar-free granola, but it’s likely lower in sugar than many store-bought varieties. And despite the tempting photo of honey being drizzled over the bowl, the granola doesn’t need extra honey—the macaroons provide plenty of sweetness.
I recently enjoyed a generous bowl with natural Greek yogurt and fresh berries and it was perfectly satisfying.
More Granola Ideas
Nuts and berries granola
No Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Cherry Bakewell Granola Bars
Chocolate Coconut Granola
Blueberry and Greek yogurt Granola Bars
Cranberry Nut sugar free granola
If you try this recipe, please rate it and tell me how it worked for you in the comments. I enjoy hearing your variations and add-ons!
Coconut Macaroon Granola
15
28
43
Ingredients
Granola:
- 320 g (3 cups) whole rolled oats make sure they’re gluten free if required
- 4 packed tbsp light-brown sugar
- 3 tbsp honey
- 3 tbsp coconut oil melted
- 4 tbsp water
- 50 g (1/2 cup) Chopped mixed nuts (I used pecans, walnuts and almonds)
- 100 g (1/2 cup) dried cranberries
Macaroons:
- 65 g (2/3 cup) desiccated coconut (I used unsweetened coconut)
- 3 tbsp caster sugar
- 1 tbsp gluten free plain (all-purpose) flour normal all-purpose flour is fine if you’re not gluten intolerant
- 1 egg white from a large egg
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 180C/350F (fan).
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Start with the granola: in a large bowl mix the oats, brown sugar, honey, coconut oil and water. Spread the mixture on a large metal baking tray and bake for 20 minutes. Check at 10 and 15 minutes to prevent burning at the edges; stir if the edges are browning faster.
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While the granola cooks, make the macaroons. Combine the desiccated coconut, caster sugar, flour and egg white in a bowl. Use a teaspoon to scoop small blobs (about 1/2 tsp) and place them on a metal baking tray, leaving a little space between them so they don’t fuse together.
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After the granola has baked 20 minutes, stir in the chopped nuts and move the tray to the bottom shelf. Put the macaroons on the top shelf and bake both for 6–8 minutes, until the macaroons are golden.
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Remove both trays from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Mix the dried cranberries and the macaroons into the granola. Let everything cool completely before storing in an airtight jar.
Notes
This version isn’t particularly clumpy—the macaroons provide the clusters. If you prefer clumpier granola, stir in one egg white and an extra tablespoon of sugar into the granola mixture before baking. Let it cool completely before breaking into pieces.
Nutritional information is per serving and provided as an approximation.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you if you choose to buy—this helps keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. Nutritional information is approximate.