Vegan Frozen Coconut Yogurt Bars

I grew up with parents who loved to garden. And one of the most memorable flowers my parents planted were the hydrangea. 

In greek, "hydro" means water and "angos" means vessel or jar. These beautiful flowers look similar to a pom-pom, and boast patriotic-like colors. The color of every bush is dependent upon the Ph in the soil. Once cut, these flowers last a long time. Hydrangeas love water, which is a reminder for us to stay hydrated. 

I subbed a yoga class in Fremont. And one of the participants gave me a handful of hydrangeas from his yard. Perfect with the summer sun, I decided to create something patriotic and cool. 

At my nearby grocery outlet store, I picked up a bunch of So Delicious products in hopes to make a frozen yogurt treat. I am fan of SO Delicious and enjoy their creativity and innovation for bringing new products on the market. (I have not been paid by SO Delicious.)

Native Americans once used hydrangeas for medicinal purposes. They used the bark as a muscle relaxer and burn ointment. Also, the roots were used as a diuretic and detoxifer. The plant comes from Asia but made way into Europe, specifically England in the 18th Century. An old and ancient myth is that the hydrangea can remove any curses placed by a witch. 

How perfect for fall as these plants rebirth clusters of these flowers throughout late September and October. 

You can mix and match the flavors of the bar that works for you. I was going for the same color scheme as the flowers, but you can also try adding in coconut cream or blending cashews to give it a creamier texture. These bars are quick to freeze, and be sure to thaw them out slightly before eating.

​If you own an ice cream maker you can also use the yogurt as a replacement in your favorite ice cream recipes.

Cooking Tips:
If you use plain yogurt, you can add maple syrup to make it sweeter. If you prefer something as a dessert, use vanilla yogurt for a sweeter flavor.

​These bars work perfect as a snack or a dessert replacement if you are trying to minimize your sugar (or ice cream) consumption. 

Vegan Coconut Frozen Yogurt Bars
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Waiting Time: Several Hours
Pan: 9x5 bread pan

Ingredients:
1 blueberry coconut yogurt cup
1 strawberry banana yogurt cup
2 vanilla (or plain for less sugar) 

Crust Ingredients:
​1/4 cup almonds
3/4 cup rolled oats
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp maple syrup
pinch of salt

Directions:
Begin by making the crust. Blend the almonds and oats for several seconds. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until your desired texture. 

Line a bread pan with parchment paper. Press the crust firmly into the pan. Pour the vanilla yogurt on top of the crust and smooth out the top. Next, spoon the flavored yogurt on top. I placed three spoonfuls across and alternated the flavors. Once complete, I took a knife and swirled the yogurt to make a marble top. 

Freeze for a couple hours. Thaw upon serving. 

Have you made froyo bars? If so, what flavors do you like? 
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