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Maple Coconut "Bacon" Blondies (Vegan)

If you think it's sounds like a crazy flavor combination, you're probably right. Hey, but all the best things in life require a little crazy!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 16 - 20 bars

Ingredients

Coconut "Bacon Bits":

  • 1 1/2 cups coconut chips/flakes
  • 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce use tamari or coconut aminos if gluten free
  • 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika

Bars:

  • 1/2 cup coconut oil melted
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar packed
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup coconut cream *see note
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon pure maple extract
  • 2 cups all purpose flour

Frosting:

  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon maple extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened plant-based milk
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

Coconut "Bacon Bits":

  1. Toast the coconut with oil in a large skillet over medium high heat, stirring constantly, until edges are starting to turn golden brown. Reduce heat to low and add remaining ingredients for the "bacon" and stir for another few minutes until the liquid has mostly evaporated. Remove from heat and pour into a separate dish so you can use the pan again.

Bars:

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F (180 C) and grease a 8x8inch glass or metal pan. Cream coconut oil and sugars together in the bowl of a stand mixer. Scrape sides of bowl, then add coconut cream, maple syrup, while stirring and mix until combined. Add extracts, soda, and salt; mix until combined. Pour in flour one cup at a time and beat after each addition. mix in about 3/4 cup of the "bacon" and press the dough into the prepared pan.
  2. Bake for 24 - 28 minutes until the center and edges are lightly browned. Remove and allow to sit for about 30 minutes until cool.

Frosting:

  1. While bars cool, whisk coconut oil with milk, syrup, salt, and extracts in a medium mixing bowl until smooth. Slowly mix in powdered sugar until frosting is completely smooth. Pour over cooled bars and sprinkle crumbled "bacon bits" over top.
  2. Cut into desired amount of squares and serve. Ice cold milk will be required.

Recipe Notes

If you have trouble finding coconut cream at your local grocery store it's completely fine to use full-fat coconut milk and scrape the cream off of the top. Just be sure that it's cold enough to separate.