Ever tried granola cookies? Tropical Coconut Chewy Granola Cookies are soft baked with a unique crunchy granola coconut texture. Bake up a vacation with these tropical inspired Granola Cookies today!
This post first appeared over at Noshing with the Nolands where I am a contributor.
Cookies don’t last long at our house. When I bake up these Oatmeal Chia Coconut Hemp Chocolate Chip Cookies (phew!) they are gone within a day.
Let’s talk lunch boxes for a moment…are your kids sick of sandwiches yet? These ultra cheezy Cheesebuns are the answer to lunch box doldrums. Popular with kids and adults, you can make them with any cheese you like or dress them up as Pizza Buns!
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Tropical Coconut Chewy Granola Cookies
Granola isn’t just for breakfast anymore! These soft baked cookies have just the right chew factor and the perfect amount of crunch from the added granola.
These cookies are bigger (in flavour) on the inside than you would expect. Take a nibble, and you’ll be transported to a coconut lover’s paradise complete with sweet dried pineapple and crunchy macadamia nuts.
Bake them up anytime for a quick tropical treat. They are the perfect cookie for on-the-go snacking or tucked into kid’s school lunches.
Tasty Tropical Ingredients
These granola cookies are triple packed full of coconut flavour. They are made using coconut oil, coconut extract, and coconut flakes. Any coconut flakes will do, from large flakes to shredded. They are a coconut lovers dream!
While we’re talking extract, the cookies would also be delicious with traditional vanilla extract and amazing with RUM extract.
If you are unable to source sweetened dried pineapple chunks, try other dried tropical fruits such as banana chips or papaya.
Macadamia nuts really increase the ‘crunch’ factor in this recipe but go ahead and switch them up using your favourite nut.
Lastly, let’s talk granola. Freshly homemade granola will give these cookies the best flavour and texture. However, if you need to use up store bought granola from your pantry, no one is judging. These cookies are the perfect way to use up old granola.
Alternatively, if ‘Tropical’ isn’t your thing, these cookies are quite versatile. Just leave out the coconut, pineapple, and macadamia nuts and replace with an equivalent amount of your preferred add ins.
These add-ins can include your favourite kind of chopped nuts like pecan, walnuts, hazelnuts or cashews, dried fruits like apples, apricots, craisins or raisins. White or semi-sweet chocolate chips to make the ultimate chewy chocolate chip granola cookie.
Ingredients
- Coconut Oil
- Brown Sugar
- Eggs
- Rum, Coconut, or Vanilla Extract
- All Purpose Flour
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Candied Dried Pineapple
- Coconut Flakes
- Macadamia Nuts
How to Make Tropical Coconut Chewy Granola Cookies
These are some special cookies. The dreamy tropical flavours and chewy, yet crunchy texture really set them apart from your average cookie.
While I usually begin baking cookies by creaming butter and sugar together, these cookies begin differently. They are made with coconut oil, which is solid at room temperature.
PS. Now is a great time to pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
The coconut oil needs to be softened before it is creamed with the brown sugar. You can achieve this by microwaving it for a few seconds or by placing it in a cup in a bowl of boiling water. It doesn’t take much heat or time to melt coconut oil.
Using the paddle attachment of a stand mixer, cream the coconut oil and brown sugar together for a few minutes. You can also use a large bowl and wooden spoon if you prefer.
Next, add the eggs (always room temperature) and coconut extract.
Why room temperature eggs you ask? Room temperature eggs won’t number one reduce the temperature in you cookie dough therefore requiring longer to bake. They also mix better when warmer and your cookies will rise more easily.
With the mixer still running, add in the flour, baking soda, and salt. The dough will come together, but it’s a good idea to scrape down the sides of the bowl so that the dough is mixed well.
At this point, the dough should be fairly stiff. Detach the mixing paddle and mix in the add-ins (coconut flakes, pineapple, macadamias) using a wooden spoon and some old fashioned elbow grease.
Chill the dough for an hour before scooping it by rounded tablespoon onto parchment paper lined baking sheets. Alternatively, use a cookie scoop if you have one.
Baking Granola Cookies to Perfection
Ovens are temperamental appliances and can often vary widely in temperature. Even though the dial says 350 F, it may be baking at a few degrees above or below this optimal cookie temperature.
This is the reason I have given a range of 10-14 minute baking time with 12 minutes being the average bake time.
The first time you bake these cookies, keep a close eye on how they are baking. If your oven runs ‘hot’ you’ll need less baking time then one that runs ‘cool’.
The cookies should be slightly golden with a darker bottom and still quite soft if you poke them with your finger. Careful! They are hot.
Cool the cookies on a wire rack, then enjoy!
Storing Baked Cookies
I like to keep these cookies on the kitchen counter and grab one every time I walk by. Let’s pretend for a moment that they won’t disappear as soon as they come out of the oven…
Store the Tropical Coconut Chewy Granola Cookies in a cookie jar or tin for up to a week. They freeze well too. Just make sure they are in an airtight container so they don’t end up tasting like ‘freezer’.
That’s it. You and I both know they won’t last that long.
Tropical Coconut Chewy Granola Cookies
Ever tried granola cookies? Tropical Coconut Chewy Granola Cookies are soft baked with a unique crunchy granola coconut texture. Bake up a vacation with these tropical inspired Granola Cookies today!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp rum extract (coconut or vanilla will work)
- 1 1/4 cups flour
- 1 tsp b soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup dried pineapple chunks; chopped
- 1/2 cup granola
- 1/4 cup coconut flakes
- 1/4 cup macadamia nuts; chopped
Instructions
- Beat coconut oil and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer (or by hand) together until well combined. Keeping the motor running, add in eggs, then extract.
- Blend in flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix well, scraping down the sides of the bowl as you go.
- Stir in pineapple, coconut, and macadamias. The dough will be quite stiff and you may need to do this by hand.
- Chill the dough for an hour.
- Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Evenly space dough by dropping it in heaped tablespoons onto parchment paper (12 cookies per sheet).
- Bake in a 350 F oven for 10-14 minutes. Remove and let cool on wire racks.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 128Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 60mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 1gSugar: 9gProtein: 2g
Nutritional calculation was provided by Nutritionix and is an estimation only. For special diets or medical issues please use your preferred calculator.
Chewy cookies are my thing. I absolutely adore this cookie. Granola, coconut what not to love about this. So good.
They are the perfect cookie, but I may be biased!
I’ve never seen granola cookies before but these look super tasty and unique. Love that these have coconut in them also!
The granola adds an interesting textural element…very crunchy!
I’m a big coconut fan and love the way coconut is used in the recipe. Looks tasty!
Your Tropical Coconut Chewy Granola Cookies really do sound OMG delicious! I would love to have a plateful to go with my coffee
I am a sucker for coconut and these cookies look super delicious I have to make them! they really do look chewy and chewy cookies are always the best. Thank you for sharing this recipe, I cant wait to try out!
They are so full of coconut flavour! I love the pineapple too though.
Love chewy cookies and flavors here are awesome. Perfect for holidays. Thanks for sharing
I think everyone would like a taste of the tropics for the holidays!
I love macadamia nuts! They tend to be pricey but it’s so worth it. Making these next week.
They sure are. I even had a bit of an issue finding them.
Your Tropical Coconut Chewy Granola Cookies really do sound perfect! I do prefer chewy cookies, think I would enjoy these with a cup of tea.
I never even thought of that! I’ll have to make another batch for tea time.
These cookies are fantastic! Made a batch of them, and they ended up being the perfect breakfast and snacking all the next day. Hearty, delicious, and wonderful!
Oh, great to hear Candice. They would be GREAT for breakfast!
I have always preferred a chewy cookie over a crunchy cookie. This sounds perfect to me. I know my family would gobble these up in no time flat.
Yeah, same here. We are team #softcookie