Gluten-free Slow Cooker Tropical Fruit Granola is a homey granola with crisp (not rock hard) flavored oats, nuts, seeds and soft dried tropical fruit. It couldn’t be easier to prepare and leaves the oven free for other cooking too. Gluten option included.
I love granola. Eating it with milk for breakfast, on top of yogurt, n these On the Go Granola-Yogurt-Fruit Breakfast Parfaits or in Coconut Cranberry Granola Energy Bites. I even made Peach Yogurt Granola Breakfast Popsciles using them. It’s harder to find gluten-free granola (the oats must be gluten-free) and it struck me, why not make my own?!
I did share a recipe for ‘raw’ Cranberry Maple Granola early on using a dehydrator. It preserves the nutrients and for those who have a dehydrator it’s a great option. Many people do not and frankly mine is packed up in my pantry most of the time too.
Though granola can be made in the oven I love this Gluten-free Slow Cooker Tropical Fruit Granola recipe. It’s all in one container, separate from the oven so I can still cook while making this granola. I also like being able to turn it in the slow cooker finding it easier to do so without spilling (I may be messier than the rest of you!) And for those of you who shelve your slow cooker during the summer, it’s a great way to cook without heating up the kitchen in the process.
I simply love this granola…..so does my family. I made two batches in one day which yields four quart-size Mason jars worth. One lives in my husband’s office for snacking. The others have been draining faster than I thought for breakfast, or snacks on its own or over something else.
In addition to the easy process of making this granola I love the texture of it when it has cooked and has cooled. It has a crisp texture without being hard. You know what I’m talking about; that granola exfoliation that happens to your gums from the rock-hard clumps in purchased granola. I also like a variety of ‘stuff’ in my granola, not just flavored oats. This recipe is full of nuts, seeds, tropical fruit bits in a homey-flavored oat base you’ll love!
This Gluten-free Slow Cooker Tropical Fruit Granola recipe creates homey flavored granola full of nuts, seeds and tropical fruit bits all in a crisp but not hard mix. Preparation in the slow cooker is easy and leaves the oven free for other cooking (as well as keeps the house cool in the summer months). Traditional (gluten) rolled oats may be easily substituted for those not gluten-free!
Gluten-free Slow Cooker Tropical Fruit Granola
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Coconut Oil , plus extra to grease the slow cooker insert
- 4 cups Gluten-free Old Fashioned Rolled Oats (I used Bob’s Red Mill brand); gluten rolled oats may be substituted if desired (for those not gluten-free)
- 1 ½ cups Chopped Pecans
- ¼ cup Hemp Hulls
- 1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/2 cup Maple Syrup
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup dried mixed Tropical Fruit
Instructions
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Lightly grease the insert of a 4 quart Slow Cooker (or larger) with coconut oil. Add the rolled oats, pecans, hemp hulls, pumpkin pie spice and salt to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
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In a liquid measuring cup or small mixing bowl, combine the maple syrup, ½ cup coconut oil and vanilla extract; stir to combine. Pour over the dry ingredients and stir to fully combine.
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Turn the slow cooker on HIGH and cook for 2 ½ hours, stirring every 30 minutes. Leave the lid ajar to allow condensation to escape during the entire cooking cycle. Note: all slow cookers are slightly different with regard to heat. Be sure to check for doneness around 2 hours; the nuts will smell toasted, the oats will be more crisp but will finally crisp up after cooling.
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Depending on available counter space, spread a 2 foot piece of parchment paper on the counter-top. When the 2 ½ hours cooking time has completed, turn off the slow cooker, stir the dried tropical fruit into the granola and spread the batch of granola on the parchment paper, spreading it fully over the parchment paper. Alternatively the granola may be spread out evenly in 2 large rimmed baking sheets and left to cool fully.
Recipe Notes
Adapted from The Kitchn.
April @ Girl Gone Gourmet says
I find I use my slow cooker a lot in the summer – when it’s hot the last thing I want to do is turn on oven or simmer something on the stove. Making granola in the slow cooker would be first – such a great idea 🙂
Lane & Holly @ With Two Spoons says
This is genius! Pinning!
Kelly Hutchinson says
There are so many things to love about this recipe! It would be perfect in so many recipes or just on top of my yogurt!
Toni Dash says
Were you peeking in my window? That’s exactly what I just had for lunch, this granola with yogurt.
dawn says
oh wow you learn something new everyday. i had no idea you use a dehydrator to make granola. i wonder does my mom know this. thanks for the info.
Toni Dash says
To clarify, this recipe Dawn is made with a slow cooker. The recipe I linked to in this blog post was an dehydrator granola recipe. Both are great!
Karen says
This looks delicious. I’ve been tossing around the idea of making some at home, but I’ve never used a dehydrator. This helps reduce some of the intimidation of it, so maybe this is the year I try it 🙂
Toni Dash says
Unless you are going to use a dehydrator for other things (they are easy to use but take up some space) this is probably an easier way to make this Karen. It takes less time too!
Seattle Travel Blogger says
Granola sure is good and so good for your diet! This is a nice granola mix preparation.
Rosey says
Store bought granola really is hard. I’d love to try making it at home.
Toni Dash says
That’s my complaint. It can be so hard it really does hurt your mouth when you eat it! This takes care of that.
Megan @ MegUnprocessed says
This is seriously loaded with goodness!