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Craving some comfort food with a coconut kick? For cool-weather evenings, these cozy little balls of yum are sure to satisfy. Made with three of our fan-favorite products—Harmless Harvest organic coconut water, organic coconut smoothie, and dairy-free coconut yogurt—don’t be surprised if these Coconut Crusted Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Balls become your new fall fave.
The Recipe Card: Coconut Crusted Mac and Cheese Balls
Ready to make the savory + sweet snack of your dreams (complete with the perfect dipping sauce to match)? Here’s how it’s done:
What you'll need:
For the Mac & Cheese
- 8 oz elbow macaroni (cooked according to instructions)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ cup Harmless Harvest Coconut Water
- ¼ cup Harmless Harvest Organic Coconut Smoothie
- ¼ cup Harmless Harvest Unsweetened Plain Dairy-Free Yogurt Alternative
- ½ cup coconut milk
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
For the Crispy Coating
- 2 eggs
- ⅔ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ⅔ cup shredded sweetened coconut flakes
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
For the Coconut Dipping Sauce
- ½ cup Harmless Harvest Unsweetened Plain Dairy-Free Yogurt Alternative
- 2 tbsp pineapple juice
- 1 tsp honey
- 2 tbsp lime juice
How to Make Them:
1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter to start making the mac and cheese. Then, add flour, salt, and garlic powder, and whisk to combine. Cook for 1 minute until the mixture is slightly brown.
2. Add in organic coconut water, coconut smoothie, and coconut milk. Whisk together until smooth.
3. Add our unsweetened coconut yogurt and whisk until smooth.
4. Cook on medium-high heat for 3 to 5 minutes or until mixture is thickened. Make sure to not let it boil!
5. Once thickened, reduce the heat and add the cheese. Whisk until the cheese is melted and the mixture is smooth.
6. Add cooked pasta to the cheese mixture and stir until sauce is evenly distributed.
7. Place mac and cheese in a large container and cool in the fridge for 1 hour to firm up.
8. While the mac and cheese is in the fridge, prepare the coating. In a small bowl, beat the eggs. In another small bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs, coconut flakes, paprika, and garlic powder.
9. Using a small scoop, portion out the mac and cheese and roll into uniform balls. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for 15 minutes.
10. Preheat the air fryer to 380 °F.
11. Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and dip each mac and cheese ball into the egg mixture and then into the breadcrumb mixture. Make sure to coat evenly! Repeat with remaining balls and coating.
12. Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray and place the coated balls in a single layer into the basket.
13. Air fry at 380 °F for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown and flip halfway through.
14. While the mac and cheese balls are in the air fryer, combine the ingredients for the coconut dipping sauce into a small bowl and mix to combine.
15. Serve the mac and cheese balls warm with the coconut dipping sauce. Enjoy!
Make It a Meal
Looking to upgrade this tasty snack to a full-on meal? We like to pair our Coconut Crusted Mac and Cheese Balls with the Vegan Italian Farro Salad. Check out the recipe for that healthy side dish by clicking here.
Get Your Harmless Harvest Ingredients
Let’s stock you up on the three Harmless Harvest products you’ll need for this delicious dish:
Coconut Water
Our iconic pink coconut water in its classic, unsweetened flavor provides the perfect amount of flavor and electrolyte goodness. Grab some for this recipe (and a few for later too!) You can even subscribe and save to get 10% off every order and free shipping.
Coconut Smoothie
Featuring the same hydration and refreshing taste as our water, our no-sugar-added, sweet-but-not-too-sweet, coconut smoothies add some richness and depth to the recipe mix. They're even Upcycled-certified!
Dairy-Free Coconut Yogurt
Last but certainly not least, our unsweetened vegan coconut yogurt brings the delightful creaminess to both the mac & cheese balls and the dipping sauce. Find them in store here.
