AJ and I spent most of the first week of our time in Maui on the beach. Specifically a beach nicknamed “Little Beach” – over the rock on the north side of Big Beach. As it’s name implies, it’s a small little beach, removed from the typical family friendly beaches strewn throughout Maui, and that also means it attracts various types of people. The gays (because gay men like to find out-of-the-way, hard-to-reach locations), hippies (same reason, but mostly because they like a place to smoke up) and nudists. Yep, little beach is a clothing optional beach, which meant AJ and I spent an inordinate amount of time sunscreening areas of our body that normally don’t see sun. We hung out with the gays (both nude and clothed) and made friends with our charm, wit, and some baked goods. Like my Rum Soaked Tropical Fruit Oatmeal Cookies.
Rum Soaked Tropical Fruit Oatmeal Cookies
I swore to our new beach friends that the cookies were just plain cookies not doctored with any mind-altering substance (well, other than the rum). But a few people there didn’t seem to trust us. I don’t blame them, as there were a number of people walking around the beach offering “ganja cookies” and “pot brownies” along with various ziplock bags of green herbs that AJ and I did not inquire about, as we had no interest in them. However, if you find yourself on Little Beach, do note that the woman offering the “ganja cookies” also sells a t-shirt that says “I got Baked on Little Beach” which makes for a lovely souvenir. Also note, the “ganja cookies” are both gluten free and vegan. So there you go. Mind altering cookies suitable for whatever your dietary restriction happens to be.
Little Beach in Maui
Little beach, despite being off the beaten path, is quite popular, especially on Sundays. Loud and riotous, there’s a fire dancing, people doing extreme yoga, and a large and loud drum circle that happens as sunset approaches. I am not a fan of drum circles, but I wondered to AJ if I would appreciate them more if I had a gluten free vegan ganja cookie. Sadly, I never did find out if this was true.
Yoga on Little Beach
Drum circle on Little Beach
Playing with Fire on Little Beach
Most of the gays seem to congregate at the end of the north end of Little Beach and it was interesting to go to the beach day after day and see the people who come and go, on vacation. AJ and I were on vacation as well, but since we were on the island for over a month, we definitely saw a number of people come and go, there for a week or for a long weekend (we never thought people would fly to Hawaii for a long weekend but apparently people do). We befriended people, only to have them leave and start afresh with new vacationers. In the end, we realized if we actually lived on the island, it would difficult to become friends with vacationers, constantly getting to know people and watching them leave. But it didn’t stop us from meeting some great people, enjoying the sand, surf and ocean, and playing a few rounds of Uno with them.
Post-sunset at Little Beach is when all the fun starts
AJ and I found that offering my baked goods broke the ice between us and the locals, even if my baked goods didn’t have any “special herbs” in them. I had originally made these Rum Soaked Tropical Fruit Oatmeal Cookies for the 4th of July party that AJ and I went to (along with my mango strawberry bars) and the ones that I brought to the party were immediately snatched up. I had put aside a few at home, to photograph for the blog, and then we brought those to the beach as well. Everyone seemed to enjoy them immensely, though I wonder how much that had to do with them liking them as they were, and them having eaten a ganja cookie and wanting something to munch on.
I won’t question it. Just make these yourself and you’ll see how addictive they are. Definitely something to share with new found friends (or enjoy them all on your own).
Rum Soaked Tropical Fruit Oatmeal Cookies
A tropical twist on the old-fashioned oatmeal raisin cookie, the longer you soak the fruit in the rum, the more kick they give it. I let them soak for about an hour, but if I were to do it again, I’d probably let them soak overnight. I know my new friends would probably appreciate that as much as I would.
170 g (1 1/2 cups) dried tropical fruit mix (dried papaya, pineapple, raisins, dried mango or whatever you want to use)
1/2 dark rum
250 g (3 cups) quick cook oats
150 g (1 cup) all purpose flour
75 g (1/2 cup) whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup melted coconut oil
175 g (1 cup) brown sugar
200 g (1 cup) white sugar
2 large eggs
1 vanilla bean
1. Place the dried tropical fruit and rum in a small bowl. Toss to coat and set aside to soak for at least an hour, or up to 24 hours (the longer you soak it, the more rum will absorb).
2. Once the fruit is ready, preheat the oven to 350˚F. Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper or silpat.
3. Place the oats, flours, cinnamon, and baking soda in a medium mixing bowl. Using a balloon whisk, vigorously stir the dry ingredients until they are well blended and uniform in color.
4. In another large mixing bowl, beat the coconut oil and sugars together with a hand mixer, or standing mixer. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating to incorporate each one separately. Then split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds into the sugar mixture. Beat to distribute.
5. Add the dry ingredients and with a wooden spoon, mix the batter to incorporate in. Drain the dried fruit (reserve the rum for another use – I suggest a Mai-Tai) and add to the cookie batter. Mix again to distribute.
6. Drop heaping tablespoons of the cookie batter on the lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the cookies look golden brown. Remove from the oven and let them rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack to cool further to room temperature.
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
Well… you had me a rum soaked. Pretty much anything that begins with those two words is going to be amazing. But these cookies truly look divine!
annelies says
I see where you are going with this… basically your next post is ganga brownies with bittersweet chocolate? 😉 Love all the time you spent at Little Beach. I would be soaking up the rays while the tropical fruit is getting soaked in rum. Oh delish.
Pat says
Really, really like the recipe, but mostly I am trying to wrap my head around playing Uno on a nude beach! Mahalo!
Mrs. L says
You had me at “rum soaked” too. I need to go find some dried tropical fruit to try these cookies soon (and not because of any forbidden substances and the munchies, they just sound really good!).
2 sisitersrecipes says
Yum! these sound fantastic! great mix in these cookies….:)
kickpleat says
Haha, this beach sounds so much like Vancouver’s Wreck Beach (yes, that’s its name). The cookies sound delicious and I love the addition of the rum!
Rose Dipped says
I just love the pictures! I will give the recipe a try cause you made me curious!Thank you for the recipe!
Tabby Pink says
I can imagine sitting on a bench eating those cookies while watching the sunset right beside the beach. Perfectly relaxing moment. The Little Beach sure looks fun to go on a relaxing vacation but first I have to try out those cookies. Cheers.