Aunt Rocky’s No Bake Haystacks (Low Carb, Gluten-Free)

Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper, set aside.

In a small nonstick skillet, lightly toast the shredded coconut. Watch it carefully, it will go quickly from browned to burned. Remove from skillet and set aside.

In a medium-small saucepan, heat crema and butter over medium heat until the butter is melted. Add sweeteners and salt and continue cooking over medium heat until they dissolve and the mixture comes to a full boil.

Reduce heat a little bit, and continue cooking, stirring constantly, for about 3 or 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla until well incorporated. Add coconut, seeds, and nuts, and fold until all of them are coated.

Working quickly (candy coating sets up fast), drop by rounded teaspoon onto parchment. You should get 24 stacks, so space them on your cookie sheet in 6 rows by 4 rows to fit them all. Shape as desired. Leave on counter for several hours to cool and dry. You can speed this along by placing the cookie sheet in the freezer for about 10 minutes. Store on counter in loosely covered container for up to a week. If they begin to get too dry or crumbly, put into plastic zip bag to retain more moisture.

Yields 24 snack servings.

Notes:
• These make nice gifts for diabetics and low carbers. Put into cute gift jars with bows on top for gift giving, and include a copy of the recipe.
• Nestlē Media Crema is a full fat unsweetened condense milk available in supermarkets that serve the Hispanic population, usually on the shelves with regular condensed milk in the baking section. It may also be ordered on Amazon, and should be available on Netrition by the end of April 2018. Do not confuse this product with Mexican “Table Cream” found in the refrigerated section. That is a sour cream substitute. I do not have a recommended substitute for the Nestlē Media Crema.
• I get no kickback for products used in my recipes. Brand names are included to assure more accurate nutritional estimates. Nutrition information is based on My Fitness Pal’s online recipe analyzer. The recipe is stored there and available to MFP users for logging in their food diaries. Sugar alcohols and liquid Sucralose are excluded from nutrition counts, as they are not absorbed by the body and rate zero on the glycemic index.
• For more Atkins/low carb/keto recipes and cooking tips, look for Aunt Rocky’s Low Carb Recipes & Tips Group on Facebook, or follow me on Pinterest at auntrocky2.

Per serving: Calories 30, Total Fat 3 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Sodium 2 mg, Potassium 31 mg, Total Carbohydrate 1.1 g, Dietary Fiber 0.6 g, Net Carbs 0.5 g, Sugars 0 g, Protein 1 g. Macros: 91% fat, 6% protein, 3% carbs.

© December 13, 2018 Roxana Lopez for Aunt Rocky’s.