Coconut Crunch with Green Apple Slices
Love this hearty afternoon snack for days when I need a pick me up. I’ve taken it over to friends’ houses and kids, husbands, and moms all swoon over this dip. I prefer to use green apple slices as their tartness complements the sweetness of the dip well but any favorite apple will do. Also, use an almond butter that has a dip-like consistency like Trader Joe’s. Some brands of almond butter are too solid which doesn’t work well for this recipe. And not to be too bossy, but use coconut flakes as opposed to shredded coconut. What are you waiting for? Go make this. So good. Enjoy!
2 cups coconut flakes, unsweetened
1 cup pepitas
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup sliced almonds
Pinch or two of sea salt
2 tablespoons coconut oil
½ cup creamy almond butter
3-4 Granny Smith green apples, sliced
- Preheat your oven to 300°F.
In a medium bowl, combine your coconut flakes, pepitas, sunflower seed, almonds, and salt. - Gently heat your coconut oil in the microwave for about 25-30 seconds to liquefy it and then combine it with the ingredients in the bowl.
- Pour the contents of the bowl onto a rimmed baking sheet and spread evenly.
- Bake for about 8 minutes, or until lightly browned, stirring halfway through. Pull from oven and let cool.
- Stir a couple tablespoons of the coconut crunch into the almond butter and then sprinkle another tablespoon or so on top.
- Scoop up a bit of the dip with an apple slice, pop it in your mouth, and enjoy!
You will have leftover coconut crunch which can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week…if it lasts that long.
PS: This makes a great care package for your favorite college student in need of healthy, delicious dorm snacks.
YIELD: A few cups
Carrie – good for you! The recipe looks very interesting to try. I had to give up caffeine because of frequent headaches. Sometimes I miss the energy it provides that day – but now it makes me feel worse the next day and is just not worth it.
Good for you, Kel, for giving up the caffeine and taking care of your body. Someday, I’ll follow your lead. 🙂
A couple of years ago – Ross and I did a 30 day juice cleanse….he had much more difficulty with giving up the caffeine than I did…but, he drinks more coffee and is more into the ritual than I am.
That first week, we both felt a little flu like and low energy….after that, we felt amazing! I would totally do it all the time, except for two things…the time to shop for everything and all the prep and clean up time….Ugh!
After that, I shifted to no alcohol, caffeine, wheat, dairy or sugar for the next 6 months…the sugar cravings lasted for at least a month (I also had to really cut out most fruits, because they were still too much sugar for my system)….I lost a lot of weight, had tons of energy, etc…then big life stuff happened – a glass of wine here, a dessert there….last year, I was Vegan for 3 months and felt amazing with it too – again, too much time on the learning curve, prep, cooking, shopping…here is the bottom line for me: I still choose to have a cup of coffee when I feel like it (yes, I am massively productive and creative when I do) and a glass or wine/cocktail when I feel like it….I would happily follow any of these eating plans as long as I could have a personal shopper and chef!
Kathleen, thank you so much for sharing. I too feel the same as you. I honestly believe I could be a happy vegan but the prep – plus the making of an additional meal the rest of my family would actually eat – it’s hard to get much else done. And yet I love the way my body feels when I nourish it so generously. So conflicted!
Thanks for the great recipe Carrie! I have just finished the Argonne 30 day food detox (no dairy, gluten sugar, caffeine, alcohol, soy) The first few days were rough but after that I feel amazing and love watching my self become leaner ,healthier and most of all lighter. I am continuing on this healthy heating as a way of life, that is how great I feel. Love finding new recipes to add to my healthy eating regime.
Hope you journey to “lighten” to continues to go well.
Best,
Sue
I love hearing how great you feel as well, Sue, after participating in your detox. And I agree with you…the best part of this whole thing has been discovering new, nourishing recipes that make my body so happy! Cheers to us all for treating our bodies so kindly!
You speaking my truth. Heavy. Life feels so heavy. I did give up gluten and sugar for the month of January. Not dairy. Not coffee!! I’m not sure I’m ready for that!! I would agree just those two things made me see that I have some very poor eating habits:( miss you! xox sheil
Dang. I sure wish we lived closer and could commiserate together over coffee. Hang in there my friend!! xo