These paleo lemon bars are sweetened naturally with maple syrup and are grain-free, gluten-free and dairy-free!
You might be wondering why I’m posting this paleo lemon bars recipe when, as you know, it’s pumpkin time! Today, a group of food bloggers has gotten together to throw Liz of The Lemon Bowl a surprise baby shower!
I got to meet Liz while at BlogHer Food in Austin this summer. She was so sweet and I’m super excited for her and her family!
Liz, who almost always posts healthy recipes, got a bit naughty with her recipe for lemon bars. They were for her mother for Mother’s Day but I figured that Liz would love a healthier version! And these lemon bars also happen to be paleo.
Lemon bars are usually so full of white sugar but this paleo lemon bar version? Just maple syrup! And there’s so little of it compared to the amount of sugar in other recipes.
I made raspberry lemon bars a few months ago. That filling is honey sweetened and has an amazing whole grain buttery cookie crust, which you could use instead of the crust in this recipe (make only half of that crust recipe!)
These lemon bars have a macaroon-like base. But it was just too much crust for me. I’ve written the recipe as I made it, but I would halve the crust if I were you.
Don’t need to eat grain-free? Go for the less healthy crust in the raspberry lemon bars! :D I mentioned in my blueberry cream cheese pie recipe that it’s the best crust ever. And it is. But it’s kind of an unfair comparison – it’s full of butter, sugar, and whole wheat pastry flour and this version is grain-free and lightly sweetened with maple syrup.
Need a keto version? Try these keto lemon bars!
Paleo Lemon Bars (grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free)
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Ready in:
- Yield: 8 bars
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 tablespoons (31 grams) coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) almond flour
- a pinch of salt
- 1 egg white
- 3 eggs + 2 egg yolks
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) maple syrup
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest (about 2 lemons)
- 1/3 cup (33 grams) almond flour
- powdered sugar or coconut flour, optional (use coconut flour for paleo)
For the crust:1
For the filling:
For serving:
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line a 9" x 5" loaf pan with parchment paper (this make the bars much easier to remove from the pan).
- Melt the coconut oil in a medium sauce pan over medium heat.
- Add the maple syrup, shredded coconut, almond flour and salt.
- Mix until well combined and remove from the heat.
- Add the egg white (saving the yolk for later!) and stir.
- Pat the mixture onto the bottom of the prepared pan and press down firmly.
- Bake for 10 minutes and then remove from the oven.
- Meanwhile, start preparing the filling.
- In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat together the eggs and egg yolks until frothy.
- Add the remaining ingredients and beat for two additional minutes.
- Pour the filling over the baked crust and bake for 19 - 21 minutes or until the center is set.
- Let the bars cool completely and then cut and serve.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Before serving, dust with powdered sugar or coconut flour, if desired.
Notes
Adapted from Perfect Lemon Coconut Bars from Green Kitchen Stories
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88 comments on “Paleo Lemon Bars (grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free)” — Add one!
Just made these. They’re so good! Thank you! I made a GAPS version by using honey instead of maple, and I had half the base like you said, which was perfect. I did use the other half of the base in another pan, drizzled with some of the lemon, and baked that for a soft biscuit/slice thing, which is also really good!
oh, I did also have to bake it all double the time you said.
So happy that you liked them, Donna! A version with honey sounds great. :) And love your idea of what to do with the other half of the crust. Thanks so much for the feedback! :)
These look AMAZING! Liz is a great gal and what a wonderful event you all put on!
These are absolutely beautiful. I’ve experimented a little with a healthier version of a lemon bar, but I didn’t come up with anything that I was 100% happy with…next time a craving hits, I will be making this!
These are beautiful, what a perfect baby shower treat!
Thanks, Anna! :)
G’day! Looks absolutely a lemony delight, true!
WISH could come through the screen and try one of these right now too!
Cheers! Joanne
Haha. I wish I could teleport some to you. :) Thanks for stopping by, Joanne!
healthier lemon bars?! Sign me up! {That means I can eat them all right?!}
Of course it does! ;)
I love that these are a healthier version. Lemon bars are one of my favorite desserts!
Mine too! But all that sugar kills me. So happy I have these now! :D
Mmmmmm….I love a good lemon bar! Can’t wait to try this recipe!
I hope you’ll like it! :)
Oh lemon bars with maple syrup?! Love that idea and the coconut in the crust!
Yeah, fancy, right?! ;)
I love that you busted me for my naughty lemon bars recipe!!!! It was my mom’s fault!!!! Can’t wait to try your amazing version!!! I bet my mom would love them too which is the ultimate test!! xoxo
Haha. Just remember to halve the crust! :D
Nice job!! Love that these are grain free and naturally sweetened – that is hard to do to a lemon bar. Bookmarking!
Thanks, Alyssa! I tried several recipes before this one and was so happy to find a naturally sweetened one. :)
Beautiful Erin! Love these darling!!!
Thanks, Amie! :)
Love classic lemon bars! You just can’t go wrong! Thanks for sharing.
Agreed! Unless you try to go too healthy. ;)
I won’t start baking. I won’t start baking. I won’t… but these sound so good I am seriously tempted. Cutting the crust amount in half would certainly make them lighter in calories. There aren’t that many baking recipes that get me, but this one does. :-)
Haha. You can give in… sometimes. ;) And yup, halving the crust is definitely a good thing! The filling is the good part, anyway. :)
WOW! These look so creamy! I will try making these in the spring when my taste buds start craving citrus :D
Haha. I know… it’s weird. Lemon in October. But it was for a good reason! :)
Erin… these are beautiful! I have a feeling they would just melt in your mouth. I also have a feeling that if I made them no one else would know… cause I would eat the whole pan! ;)
Haha. Well it only makes a small pan so go for it! ;)
These look awesome! Lemon bars are one of my favorite things — definitely excited about a healthier version!
Thanks, Rachel! And woohoo for healthier lemon bars. :D
What a lovely surprise for Liz! Love the sound of these lemon bars : )
Thanks, Kathryn! :)
Now this is what I’m talking about! My favorite dessert with less guilt! So perfect for Liz’s Shower.
Woohoo! I have to say we all did a great job of coming up with Liz-y treats! :)
Mmm, I love a good lemon bar! I’m going to have to try that crust, too! I love that it’s gluten free! Yay for bring dessert to the baby shower! :D
So happy I got in when dessert spots were still available! :D