This was originally posted on another blog of mine (Happy Homemaker Reviews).   I consolidated them to continue to simplify my life.   – Jen  (04.2012)

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Tropical Traditions bills themselves as America’s Source for Coconut Oil.   And truly, they are.   Not only do they sell coconut oil for eating, but they have also found use for it in many beauty products.   Tropical Traditions isn’t solely about the coconut oil, though; they also sell green cleaning products, dietary supplements (like cod liver oil), and other good for you oils.

This being my first transaction with Tropical Traditions, I was very impressed.   The package arrived very quickly and it was obvious that they knew exactly how to send it to avoid the bottle breaking.   It was secured very well, almost in a cage of cardboard.

I’ve only used coconut oil once (not from them) and I attempted to use it in place of shortening in frosting.   Didn’t work.   So when this came, I had to research the best way to substitute it.   This week, I decided to try using the Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil as a substitute for vegetable oil in my Strawberry Muffins.   I used it in a 1:1 ratio.  I left all the other ingredients go to room temperature so the melted oil would not turn back to a solid and it worked really well.   My test for next time would be to use a little less than a 1:1 ratio.  The muffins were harder to get out of the muffin tin than normal.  I think they were a little too moist.

The house smelled very pleasantly of coconut while they were baking (and the muffins did too, even the next day).   It is important to note, however, that they did not TASTE like coconut even though they smelled like it.   My husband is not what I would call a coconut fan, but appreciates the efforts to make healthier, but still yummy food.   It met with his approval.   My strawberry muffin recipe is below, not totally REAL FOOD, but closer :).

 

Strawberry Muffins

1-1/2 c whole wheat pastry flour
1-1/4 c strawberries, crushed
3/4 c sugar
2/3 c coconut oil, melted
2 eggs
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda

Warm all ingredients to room temp. Preheat oven to 350F. Melt coconut oil and mix together in a large bowl. Stir until just combined. Pour into greased muffin pans. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean – about 30 minutes.

Yields 12 muffins.

Although this was a modification of one of my recipes, you can find more recipes at their Free Coconut Recipes Blog.    I will be sharing how coconut substitutes for shortening in another recipe (my Banana Nugget Cookies) next week!

Buy It

You can buy Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil for $19.95 a pint at their site.   The best part?  They have a 100% money-back guarantee on the 16oz trial size.  If you try it and don’t like it, you will get your money back!   If you have never ordered before, mention you were referred by 7733701 and you will get a FREE copy of their Virgin Coconut Oil book with your first order.

Win It

Tropical Traditions has also graciously also provided a quart of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil for one of you!   This giveaway is open to US addresses and ends at Midnight on Thursday, June 9, 2011.

To win, all you need to do is to subscribe to the Tropical Traditions Email Newsletter.   Then, leave a comment letting me know you did so as well as the email address you used to subscribe.

You can also earn extra entries for the following:

Enter to win a Quart of Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil from @HappyHReviews & @Troptraditions:  http://bit.ly/kYNpRA

Good luck!

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.

31 Comments on {CLOSED} Review & Giveaway: Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil and Strawberry Muffin Recipe

  1. Lil' Peach
    9 June 2011 at 3:00 PM (13 years ago)

    I subscribed – and have been thinking of trying coconut oil in lots of recipes. I subscribed as chillpenn@gmail.com

  2. H.M.
    9 June 2011 at 1:27 AM (13 years ago)

    I receive tropical Traditions Newsletter.

  3. Evelyn
    8 June 2011 at 6:48 AM (13 years ago)

    I liked you on FB! Thanks for your reviews!

  4. Evelyn
    8 June 2011 at 6:48 AM (13 years ago)

    I liked TT on Facebook!

  5. Evelyn
    8 June 2011 at 6:47 AM (13 years ago)

    I signed up for the TT newsletter with pureromancebyevelyn@
    Thanks for the contest!

  6. Sue D
    6 June 2011 at 8:00 PM (13 years ago)

    I subscribed to the Tropical Traditions email newsletter as slrdowney at hotmail dot com

  7. Mike
    5 June 2011 at 8:43 PM (13 years ago)

    I get the TT newsletter.

  8. Mike
    29 May 2011 at 4:45 PM (13 years ago)

    I subscribed to the TT newsletter.
    mike dot karr at gmail dot com

  9. Bethany
    27 May 2011 at 8:26 PM (13 years ago)

    I like Tropical Traditions on Facebook!

  10. Bethany
    27 May 2011 at 8:26 PM (13 years ago)

    I like Happy Homemaker Reviews on Facebook!

  11. Bethany
    27 May 2011 at 8:25 PM (13 years ago)

    I subscribed to HHR via Google Connect

  12. Bethany
    27 May 2011 at 8:25 PM (13 years ago)

    I subscribed to the Tropical Traditions email newsletter via nannybubba@gmail.com

  13. Heather
    27 May 2011 at 7:39 AM (13 years ago)

    I like Tropical Traditions on facebook 🙂
    Heather´s last blog post ..Wordless Wednesday

  14. Heather
    27 May 2011 at 7:37 AM (13 years ago)

    I subscribe to HHR in m reader.
    Heather´s last blog post ..Wordless Wednesday

  15. Heather
    27 May 2011 at 7:35 AM (13 years ago)

    I subscribe to Tropical Traditions at hhampton 223 at aol dot com. It is the only coconut oil I will use!
    Heather´s last blog post ..Wordless Wednesday

  16. Lauren Bayles
    26 May 2011 at 4:52 PM (13 years ago)

    Oops. In my previous comment, I meant to say that I subscribed to Tropical Traditions emails, not yours! Thx.

  17. Lauren Bayles
    26 May 2011 at 4:50 PM (13 years ago)

    I like Tropical Traditions on FB (bayles dot 17 at hotmail dot com)

  18. Lauren Bayles
    26 May 2011 at 4:50 PM (13 years ago)

    I follow you on FB (bayles dot 17 at hotmail dot com)

  19. Lauren Bayles
    26 May 2011 at 4:49 PM (13 years ago)

    I follow you via Google Reader (laurenbayles at gmail dot com)

  20. Lauren Bayles
    26 May 2011 at 4:49 PM (13 years ago)

    I subscribe to your emails using laurenbayles at hotmail dot com (tho’ I did not receive a confirmation email, so I hope it went through O.K.).

  21. lena
    26 May 2011 at 4:38 PM (13 years ago)

    i subscribed!

2Pingbacks & Trackbacks on {CLOSED} Review & Giveaway: Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil and Strawberry Muffin Recipe

  1. […] Last week, I mentioned that I would do a test of substituting Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil in place of shortening in my favorite cookie recipe.   Well, it worked.   Not only did my husband declare them the best cookies I’ve ever made (he’s not usually a fan of those particular cookies), but they were puffy, like when I make them with shortening.  I tried butter once and they were flat as hockey pucks and didn’t stay together. […]