Here's an ingenious vegan substitute for bacon: Large flakes of unsweetened coconut are the perfect canvas to infuse the smoky-sweet flavor associated with the real thing. Coconut has natural fat and the flakes absorb seasoning well.
Preheat oven to 275°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine the coconut sugar, paprika, sea salt, garlic powder, black pepper, tamari, vinegar, and liquid smoke. Mix through until the sugar is dissolved.
Add the coconut and stir through until all the marinade is absorbed and the coconut is fully coated.
Spread on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 30 to 32 minutes, tossing once about halfway through baking and checking for doneness at about 27 to 28 minutes. The coconut can turn from just perfectly cooked (a dark pinkish brown color) to burned (dark brown, and with a bitter flavor) in just a few minutes. So, don’t overbake!
Remove, and let cool. They will continue to dry and crisp once out of the oven. Once completely cool, you can transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate; it will keep for weeks, maybe longer!