Like the whole world I’m trying to eat less crap, but my sweet tooth is letting me down and I’ve been scouring my “healthy” cookbooks for better for me ideas.
I got the Happy Pear cookbook last year and instantly loved the no bake twix bars(link) and the caramel slices but I haven’t cooked much else out of it.
This evening I took it out to and spied these coconut macaroons- not the sugar filled delicious ones I made when the blog was still in its early days (recipe here)- a healthier version.
I scanned the ingredients list- coconut -check, ground almonds – check, coconut oil, vanilla, chocolate, maple syrup, all check. It was going to happen!
These are easy to make, although messy as my melon baller died at Christmas and probably won’t be replaced until next Christmas, but it’s nothing a bit of extra hand washing won’t sort out.
Maybe I overcooked them slightly so hey were crunchy, but to me they tasted quite like Jacob’s Polo biscuits.
Healthy (gluten and dairy free) coconut macaroons from The Happy Pear
50g ground almonds
120g dessicated coconut
55g coconut oil (melted)
60ml maple syrup or honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
60g dark chocolate for drizzling
Preheat oven to 140C.
Line a baking tray with parchment.
Mix the coconut and ground almonds together in a bowl.
Get another bowl and mix the melted coconut oil, maple syrup/honey and vanilla extract.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry, stir well to bring it all together.
The happy pear book suggests using a melon baller to scoop and combine the macaroons but I broke mine a while ago and forgot about it until I read that suggestion, but luckily there’s an alterntative. Use your hands to make little balls. Yes it’s sticky but the result is worth it. Roll the balls to really make them stick together.
Then bake in the oven for 15 mins, turn the tray and bake for another 10 mins and turn the tray again for a final 5 minutes.
Take them out of the oven and let them cool on a tray for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool.
Then melt the chocolate and drizzle with the chocolate.
Enjoy!
