Crispy, salty, sweet, and crunchy— Coconut Bacon is what dreams are made of! Sprinkle this on everything!
Coconut Bacon
I know, I know, I am not the first person under the sun to share a Coconut Bacon recipe. But you guys—it is SO good! These little flakes of goodness are crispy, crunchy, sweet and salty. They are SO delicious. Sprinkle them on EVERYTHING. Seriously. They are delicious in a salad, sprinkled on soup, on a sandwich, on avocado toast. They are YUMMY!!! The point is, you need Coconut Bacon in your life!!!
Mmmm….Bacon
Bacon. Yep, everyone loves bacon. But that doesn’t mean everyone loves “traditional” pork bacon. While not the original definition, bacon to me is something that is crispy, salty, sweet, and even a little crunchy. It’s the flavor that everyone loves—not the actual source. So get on board the vegan bacon train—there are so many options! You can make bacon out of tofu, seitan, eggplant, mushrooms, carrots, cashews, rice paper, and yes….coconut flakes! Coconut flakes are perfect for a bacon bit topping, as they already have a bit of crispness and a sweet mellow flavor. Add in a delicious marinade of maple syrup, vegan worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, and apple cider vinegar and you’ve got it! Bacon! Made from a coconut! (I’m not yelling, I’m just excited!)
Smokey Flavor
The smokey flavor in my coconut bacon comes from two sources—liquid smoke and smoked paprika. They work really well together to give the bacon a nice mellow taste. Liquid smoke can be found at most grocery stores. If you can’t find it, or don’t feel like running to the store, add an extra quarter teaspoon of smoked paprika to your marinade mix instead.
Sharing with friends!
I brought this coconut bacon to my weekly moms’ group as part of a brunch spread a few weeks ago. It’s second nature to me to hear things like coconut bacon, carrot bacon, etc. I kinda forgot that I was in the minority there, and when I said “coconut bacon” my friends all gave me a funny look! And then they tried it. Many a convert were made that day! Many vegan bacon recipes use soy sauce to give their bacon a salty bite. In this recipe I just use regular granulated salt instead, keeping this Coconut Bacon both soy free and gluten free, which makes it perfect to share with friends who may have different dietary restrictions or preferences.
Look how easy it is to make Coconut Bacon!
I hope you get a chance to try my coconut bacon recipe! It’s so delicious! When you do, be sure to snap a picture and share it on social media! Tag me! {#frieddandelions // @frieddandelions}
Coconut Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vegan worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups large coconut flakes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300°. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Mix all ingredients, except for the coconut flakes, together in a small bowl.
- Pour the marinade over the coconut flakes in a medium sized bowl.
- Mix the coconut and marinade mixture well, being sure to coat all of the coconut with the marinade. It will feel like there is not enough liquid, but it will come together. Be patient!
- Spread coconut bacon on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Do not let the coconut bacon overcook, or it will taste burnt. The bacon will continue crisping as it cools, so err on the side of less cooking time. 25 minutes should be just right!
- Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bacon to cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container. Bacon will keep crispy for about a week.
