There are some foods that recreate a scene in my mind, that take me back to another time and another place. Honey Joys is one of those recipes.
I don’t think of the parties I attended with a pink dress on and pony tails in my hair.
I don’t think of the countless times I sat on my Gran’s bench, mixing the honey, butter and cornflakes and eating the mixture before it had set.
I think of my 18 year old self on the weekends I spent visiting my family back in my home town.
I think of my much loved Gran’s request to make her Honey Joys and I laugh as I recall her telling me, in all seriousness, that they are a perfect breakfast. “Delicious and healthy” she would say. “What could be wrong with cornflakes, honey and butter – they are all fabulous, everyday breakfast choices”.
So I would make her a batch each time I visited because I agreed with Gran. When you get to 85 you can have whatever you desire, whenever you desire. She absolutely loved them and I am so pleased that I was the one whipping up her morning joy and getting her day off to a happy start.
The Honey Joys I am sharing with you today are not the ones I was making for my Gran all those years ago. Nor are they the ones that I recall from my childhood parties. But they are still delicious, they still make me smile and they still make me feel young again. I hope you enjoy them.
Honey Joys
- 1 cup flaked almonds*
- 1 cup flaked coconut
- pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoons honey**
- 1/2 teaspoon concentrated natural vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 12 mini patty pans
- Heat a large frypan over medium heat.
- Add the flaked almonds. Reduce the heat to medium – low. Toast the almonds, stirring frequently, until fragrant (approximately two minutes).
- Add the coconut and salt. Reduce the heat to low and stir for 1 minute, the almonds should be golden. Turn off the heat and drizzle over the honey and vanilla. Continue stirring to combine.
- Transfer the mixture to a medium sized bowl and stir in the coconut oil.
- Use your hands to divide the mixture between the patty pans. You may like to use damp hands. Place the honey joys aside or into the fridge to set.
- Serve. Enjoy.
*to make these nut free I would omit the almonds, double the coconut and add 1/2 a cup of sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
**you can use rice malt syrup if you prefer.