Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Review (And Giveaway!)

If you've been following my food adventures for awhile now, you know I've been experimenting with coconut oil in my cooking, so I was really excited to have the opportunity to review Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil.  First I used it in granola bars, and then replaced part of the butter in my favorite banana bread recipe (see below).  In both, the coconut oil added a bit of sweetness that was really good.  So good, in fact, that our family ate an entire loaf of banana bread in less than 12 hours!  It also seemed like the texture of the banana bread was a little bit smoother and fluffier.  All perfect qualities for baked goods. 

Banana Bread Recipe
(makes 2 loaves)

Ingredients:

• 4-5 ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 3 cups flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In large bowl, smash peeled bananas. In microwave safe bowl, melt butter and coconut oil together.  Add to smashed bananas and stir to combine.  Mix in sugar, vanilla extract, and eggs.  Add dry ingredients and stir just until combined.  Pour into two greased loaf pans.  Bake for 45-55 minutes, until golden brown on top and knife inserted into bread comes out clean.

Since I'm kind of a coconut oil newbie, I've only tried one other brand.  However, the Tropical Traditions coconut oil seems smoother and more consistent than that other brand so far.  My next step is to try frying (and maybe even branch out into non-food uses, like homemade cosmetics), but I haven't gotten there yet.  There are so many uses for coconut oil besides baking - I've only just scratched the surface.

I also like how easy it is to order online from Tropical Traditions.  The coconut oil is offered in several sizes, so you can start small if you're just trying it out, and order bigger once you know you like it (and I really think you will).  They have an awesome referral program too - you get a $25 credit for each new customer who orders through your link!

Some of the links in this post are my referral links. If you order by clicking on any of my links and have never ordered from Tropical Traditions in the past, you will receive a free book on Virgin Coconut Oil, and I will receive a discount coupon for referring you.

And now it's your turn!  Tropical Traditions is generously giving away a jar of coconut oil to one of my readers!

 

Win 1 quart of Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil!

Tropical Traditions is America’s source for coconut oil. Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is hand crafted in small batches by family producers, and it is the highest quality coconut oil they offer. You can read more about how virgin coconut oil is different from other coconut oils on their website: What is Virgin Coconut Oil?

You can also watch the video they produced about Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil:

Tropical Traditions also carries other varieties of affordable high quality coconut oil. Visit their website to check on current sales, to learn about the many uses of coconut oil, and to read about all the advantages of buying coconut oil online. Since the FDA does not want us to discuss the health benefits of coconut oil on a page where it is being sold or given away, here is a website to read about the health benefits of coconut oil.

To enter to win, sign up for the Tropical Traditions email newsletter, and leave me a comment telling me you've done so.  This is the mandatory entry, as dictated by the giveaway sponsor.

For an additional entry, like Tropical Traditions on Facebook, and leave me a separate comment telling me you do.

This giveaway will close on Monday, May 6 at 12:00pm CDT.  The winner will then have 48 hours to respond to my email with contact information to get their prize.  If I do not hear from the winner within that time frame, I will choose an alternate winner.

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.  All opinions expressed are my own.