Kiwifruit Coconut Granola {gluten free, oat free}

By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by Zespri Kiwifruit and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

Overnight oats, hard boiled eggs, fresh fruit, and homemade protein bars… these are a few of my favorite hot-weather breakfasts. Because when I’m rushing around, getting ready in the morning for work, the last thing I want is to eat warm food that just increases my internal temperature.

Granola is another one of those favorites. I like to mix it up by serving with yogurt, milk, or just on its own as a snack. This granola bakes up quickly (for minimal oven time), and tastes absolutely amazing!

It’s grain free, which makes it naturally gluten free, and has just the right amount of sweetness thanks to honey and dehydrated kiwi.

Yep, I dried out some SunGold kiwifruit to pair with this granola! My boyfriend recently surprised me with a dehydrator, something I’ve wanted for a long time but never did the research. Luckily, he did for me, and one day I came home to a brand new dehydrator sitting on our kitchen table!

My mind began racing, planning out what I would dehydrate first. Fruits? Veggies? Snacks? Pantry staples? It was so overwhelming in the best way! And then came along the Zespri kiwifruit challenge, and it seemed so obvious that I should dehydrate these gorgeous yellow fruits, and mix them in with a nut and seed-based granola.

This granola is packed with all the good fats, can easily be made vegan by using maple syrup in place of honey, and is versatile, so you can use whichever nuts and seeds you prefer or have on hand.

The kiwi add a vitamin punch, as they’re high in both C and E, and when dried, have an amazing chewy texture, which pairs perfectly with the crunchy granola and creamy yogurt. Enjoy as a breakfast, lunch, or hearty snack!

Kiwifruit Coconut Granola

Makes 12 servings

• 1 C chopped raw almonds
• 1 C chopped raw walnuts
• 1/2 C pepitas
• 4 tbsp chia seeds
• 1/2 C cooked Quinoa
• 1 C shredded coconut
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 C coconut oil, melted
• 1/4 C raw honey
• 1/2 tsp coconut extract
• 2 kiwifruit, peeled, halved and sliced thin. Dehydrate 18 hours in a dehydrator or a low oven

Dehydrate your kiwifruit ahead of time. Fresh kiwifruit baked with the granola will burn. Alternatively, you can serve the baked granola with fresh sliced kiwifruit if desired.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients (except kiwi).

In a small bowl, whisk together melted coconut oil, honey and extract. Pour over the dry ingredients and stir to coat.

Spread the granola in an even layer on the prepared sheet – don’t break up any clumps, as these will be extra delicious!

Bake at 300 for 30-35 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Remove and allow to cool completely on the pan. Stir in the dehydrated kiwi and store in an airtight container in your pantry, up to two weeks.

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