No Bake Coconut Bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 2 Tbsp. virgin coconut oil
• 1/4 cup of water
• 2 Tbsp. xylitol
• 2 tsp. pure maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla or almond extract
• dash of sea salt

Instructions

1. Add xylitol, maple syrup, extract & salt to the water
2. Once the xylitol has dissolved, blend all ingredients in a food processor
3. Pour into a small square container, preferably glass
4. Chill for an hour before cutting into squares
5. If desired, top with melted 85-88%dark chocolate

The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, cholesterol level maintenance, weight loss, boosted immune system, proper digestion and regulated metabolism. It also provides relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV, and cancer, while helping to improve dental quality and bone strength. These benefits of oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and their respective properties, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-fungal, antibacterial and soothing qualities.