Friday 20 March 2015

Gluten-Free/Vegan Coconut Chocolate No-Bake Macaroons


It’s the first day of Spring, and we have so much snow that we probably won’t see green until May at this rate!  But at least it’s sunny outside, and that means the snow is melting slowly but surly J

So while I’m stuck inside I choose to make myself useful by doing the dishes, cleaning, baking and cooking up a storm.  I love making things from scratch when I have the time.  It allows me to use more wholesome ingredients, as opposed to pre-packaged instant products which can have added preservatives and sugars.  Taking that extra time in the kitchen to prepare all of your food ahead of time, is worth the effort and peace of mind.  Of course there are some foods we don’t always have the time to get or prepare ahead, so it’s best to read the nutrition facts and make sure what you are putting in your body will benefit you on a cellular level.  In other words, foods that will work with the nutrition your body wants, rather than working against the natural flow your body needs to function on a healthy level.

So I wanted to make something that would be beneficial to your health without all of the added sugars, gluten's or animal bi-products which we can sometime consume to much of.  It will also curb your sugar and chocolate cravings, without making you feel guilty about eating something sweet at the same time.


I was skeptical at first when I found this recipe, I thought it was going to be too bitter and not taste good at all.  But I was pleasantly surprised as this recipe had exceeded my expectations.  It’s very simple and you can even make these with your kids as a fun activity or mid-afternoon treat/snack.



Even though there is Maple Syrup in this recipe, please know that it is a natural sugar but still a sugary ingredient, so probably not the best idea to eat the whole batch all at once LOL!  You can also substitute a cup of the coconut for rolled oats, nuts (for more of a sweet salty taste) or dried fruit if you want more of a chewy texture to your macaroons.


I hope you enjoy these as much as I did and share with your friends <3





_____________________________________________________________




Coconut Chocolate No-Bake Macaroons
Servings: yields about 40 macaroons
Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
  • 3 cups unsweetened dried coconut flakes
  • 3/4 cup almond flour*
  • 3/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup maple syrup
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Directions:
Mix all 4 dry ingredients together well with a wooden spoon.  Then add all 3 wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients, mix well until fully incorporated.  Form into small balls using a spoon or cookie scoop, by placing on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Refrigerate until firm, you can also put in the freezer for an extra crunch.

*You can grind your own almond flour by placing whole almonds in a blender/food processor and blending until a fine meal. 
Note: You have to leave these in the fridge or the freezer to keep them firm, once left out for a few minutes they get too soft and messy.

4 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love what you said too. Good job. I'm so impressed. I'm gonna share your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you, I thought it was a good idea to give a more health conscious recipe this time around :)

    ReplyDelete