last week i shared my newest obsession on facebook: a toasted bagel, smeared with ripe avocado and topped with crunchy coconut bacon.  immediately i had replies and emails asking me about coconut bacon.  it is a magical little condiment that takes only a half hour to make, taking rich and smooth coconut flakes and turns them into smokey, salty, crunchy bits that are highly addictive.today i want to share just how easy it is to make…  that way you can obsess over it too!

i remember first hearing about it when kristen posted about coconut bacon years ago, and had all but forgotten about it until lisa brought it up a couple weeks ago sharing this recipe with me, and then i realized i still hadn’t tried it!  so i hopped to it and made some.  the result?  i was NOT disapointed.  it is a game changer.  and yes, i haven’t shut up about it on facebook since.  (sorry about that.)

i love me some tempeh bacon but the coconut is such a playful, crunchy twist.  it’s yummy in sandwiches, popped by the handful and i can’t wait to top my next piled high caesar salad with it too!

coconut bacon
scant 4 cups unsweetened flaked coconut*
2.5 tbsp gf tamari 
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp sesame oil
1/2 tbsp liquid smoke
a pinch of sea salt 

preheat your oven to 325f.  measure coconut into a large bowl.  in a small bowl or measuring cup, measure out the remaining ingredients and whisk to combine.**   add this mixture to the coconut and fold well to coat it.  spread out the coconut onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and place in the oven for 25-30 minutes, stopping every 10 minutes to stir things up.  once you’ve hit full time, remove from the oven, sprinkle with a couple pinches of sea salt and let it rest for 10 minutes to cool and firm up.  store in an air tight container.

then revel in your coconut bacon glory and put it on everything in sight!

* i used one entire bag of let’s do organic flaked coconut (198g) which measured out to a scant 4 cups.  if you can’t find large flaked coconut, i imagine you can use shredded coconut, but you mightn’t need to bake it for as long.  if anyone tries do let me know how it worked out!

**{if you’ve never used liquid smoke before, be prepared for your kitchen will smell very smokey.  at first this threw me for a loop and i wasn’t into it, but slowly it grew on me and by the time the first bite of coconut was popped, i was in love with the smoke flavour and lingering smell too!}

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well hello there!  welcome to cupcakes and kale – my chance to share a little about some of the vegan eats, vegan sweets and vegan living i’m doing up in northern ontario.   i live with my husband (m) in a big creaky place and we recently welcomed our wee little vegan into the world.  we’ve got a record store and a small, but sunny kitchen where i love spending time cooking and baking up a storm.  i love my vegan life and look forward to sharing it with you here.

as for the name, i happen to count vegan cupcakes and kale as two of my most favourite things – so i’ll be sure to include some of my favourite recipes for them along the way….

there is the potential to make the world an infinitely better place everytime we sit down to eat.  embrace that here.

and don’t be shy, i’d love to hear from you – please say hello and comment on posts you enjoy!  or, you can get in touch with me at cupcakesandkale{at}gmail{dot}com.

xo
jess

 

>via: http://cupcakesandkale.blogspot.ca/2013/05/coconut-bacon.html