I’m always trying to change up the lunch box snacks in the kid’s school lunches (well, for my son really because my fussy daughter’s selection hardly ever changes) so when I’m at the supermarket, I look at what snacks are available and think about making them from scratch at home. I can remember my Mum making something similar and thought I’d try a batch of Homemade Apricot Coconut Bites.

The best part about having a well stocked pantry is that you can make this sort of thing all the time if you run out of snacks for the kids. It doesn’t haven’t to be apricots. If you have any dried fruit like sultanas, apples, pears, dates or any other sticky dried fruit. I always have coconut and oats so these were going to be really easy to make.

These are the type of snack I see in the supermarket. These are around $2.75 and there are 5 serves in the packet. As you see in my photo up top, I got about 16 slices from the batch I made and 2 small pieces in my son’s lunch box was enough to keep him going. It also kept well in the fridge but you could freeze if you wanted to keep it longer. I found it nice on a fruit and cheese platter for a quick lunch for myself. Just something a little bit different from the usual sandwich.

You could chop the apricot finely if you didn’t have a food processor but I whizzed up all the ingredients in my trusty food processor.

Next, spread out mixture onto a sheet of laid out plastic wrap.

Form a log shape.

Roll up into a ‘sausage’ shape and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

Unroll from the plastic wrap and sprinkle with more coconut and roll, ensuring that the entire ‘log’ is covered in coconut.

Slice into about 1cm (.5″) slices and store in a suitable container in the fridge or freezer until required.

This was so easy. I didn’t have to add any extra sugar like I’m sure the store bought version had and they tasted exactly the same. My son loved them and they’ll be a regular in lunch boxes to come for sure. They’d also work well rolled into a ball then rolled in the coconut if you wanted to make those energy type bliss ball snacks. This would also be a great seller at fetes and fairs.

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Homemade Apricot & Coconut Bites

A delicious snack for school lunch boxes or a fruit and cheese platter. Great to sell at fetes and fairs for a healthy alternative to sweets.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings 8

Author Anne Murphy

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried apricots
• 1 cup coconut
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 2 tablespoons of honey add extra if too dry or add more oats if too wet
• extra coconut for rolling

Instructions

1. Using a food processor, combine all ingredients and pulse until apricot has been finely chopped and all ingredients incorporated.
2. If you don't have a food processor, finely chop apricots and combine all ingredients.
3. Turn out mixture on a sheet of plastic wrap.
4. Press into a log shape and roll up the sheet of plastic wrap until a log shape forms.
5. Refrigerate for approximately 30 minutes.
6. Unwrap from plastic wrap and roll the log shape into extra coconut.
7. Cut into 1cm (.5") slices.
8. Refrigerate until required.
9. Suitable to freeze.

Recipe Notes

Substitute apricots with other similar sticky dried fruit like dried pears, peaches, sultanas or dates.
Can be rolled into a ball shape and rolled in coconut.