No-Bake Cranberry Coconut Squares

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We’ve been busy…really busy. Packing, moving, unpacking, cleaning, furnishing… So I’m kind of embarrassed at how long today’s post has been sitting in my drafts. Let’s just say I made these at our old apartment and we’ve now been at the new house for almost 3 weeks so….yeah…. BUT (and there’s always a ‘but’), I can honestly say that it hasn’t been a month yet, so there!

…but wait, there’s more lol. For the life of me, I can’t seem to find the original recipe, so I couldn’t include a link back to it. My absent-minded mommy-ness forgot to save it, of course…I’ll find it, just have to dig a little deeper into my browsing history…

Anyways, enjoy today’s recipe. I actually wish I could make some of these today but we don’ have any coconut flakes :(

*adds coconut flakes to this week’s grocery list* :)

A huge part of greening our home includes making as much of our food from scratch as possible. That’s simple when you’re talking about your regular meals, but what about snacks and treats? This has got to be one of the biggest areas that we lapse in, and eventually end up with a box of something like granola bars which, even if they’re healthy and organic, they’re still individually wrapped and overpriced – the opposite of green and frugal…

I was really craving something sweet and I set out to make something that would use up some leftover coconut flakes and dried cranberries. I found an awesome recipe and modified it a bit to suit our tastes. It’s very easy and requires no baking time! Just 10-15 minutes on the stove and about half hour in the fridge and that’s it! If you like coconut, you’ll love these bars :)

NOTE: The recipe was actually double the one below but I cut it in half because that’s all the coconut I had on hand. After trying these, I would definitely make up a whole batch next time :)

What you need:

  • 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
  • 1/4 – 1/2 cup coconut oil (I would start with 1/4 cup and increase from there)
  • 2 tbsp. brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp. honey
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • dash of salt

What to do:

  1. In a small saucepan over very low heat, combine coconut flakes and oil and stir until oil is melted, about 4-5 minutes. If it seems too dry, add a little more coconut oil. It should be easy to stir, but not runny.
  2. Add the brown sugar, honey, vanilla, and salt. Keep stirring until everything is melted and the coconut has absorbed some of the oil, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add cranberries and stir until heated through, about 5 minutes.
  4. Line a small casserole or pan with wax paper, pour the coconut mixture in, and press it down into the pan. (TIP: Keep the waxy bag that your cereal comes in, and you’ve got upcycled wax paper!)

    Reuse cereal bags! :)

    Use another wax paper to press it down into pan.

  5. Put in the fridge for at least half hour for it to set and firm up.
  6. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container. Because of coconut oil’s low melting point, it’s best to keep these bars in the fridge.

    I reused an old take-out container.

These are so versatile, you can probably add just about anything to them. The cranberries were my addition, but I’d love to try some chocolate, nuts, maybe some oats even! I’d love to hear about your variations, so please share…and in the meantime, enjoy :)

Til next time,
Sarah

Sarah UmmYousef

Sarah UmmYousef is a former school teacher turned stay-at-home wife and mama with a passion for all things simple, natural, and homemade. She loves the natural world, and believes the solutions to many of the world’s ailments lie in nature. Her blog, , began as a way to document her family’s journey to a greener home, but has since become a thriving community and resource for those wishing to take small steps towards a more eco-friendly, natural and sustainable lifestyle. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

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