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Quick and Easy Gluten-Free Recipes

No-Bake Coconut Lemon Squares

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Coconut Lemon Squares (GF, DF, V, SF)

Spring is finally here! Woohoo! I’m going to ignore the fact that there was potential snow in the forecast yesterday (Seriously, Chicago?) and proclaim that alas SPRING IS HERE! I want to shout it to the streets! Yell it from the mountain tops! Call my mom! and say.. spring. is. here. Can you tell I’m excited?

When I think of Spring, the first thing that comes to my mind is lemon. Ice cold lemonade, lemon curd, lemon cakes. Just lemon. So it should come as no surprise then that at the first hint of warm weather I immediately started working on a lemon square recipe. They are not to be confused with lemon bars because honestly they are not even remotely the same. These lemon squares are coconut lemon squares and guess what? They’re gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and sugar-free. Needless to say, it took me quite a few attempts to come up with this recipe and satisfy my dietary needs. But with one bite, I was hooked!

These coconut lemon squares have a lemony flavor that is bright and fresh with just a touch of sweetness. They’re also no-bake so they come together in a snap. I guess I should say almost no-bake as you do need to melt the coconut oil and coconut butter to make the filling. But other than that, you just pop them in the refrigerator or freezer and an hour later, they’re ready to serve! Next time you have a party or get together, try these no-bake coconut lemon bars!

Tell me, what’s your favorite Spring time dish?

Coconut Lemon Squares (GF, DF, V, SF)

 

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No-Bake Coconut Lemon Squares

A bright and fresh coconut lemon square that is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and sugar-free!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Servings 12 bars
Calories 269 kcal
Author Megan Hastings

Ingredients

Crust

  • 1 cup almonds
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
  • 1/4 cup coconut butter
  • 5 drops liquid stevia or honey to taste
  • 1/4 tsp lemon zest

Filling

  • 1 cup coconut butter
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp lemon zest plus additional for topping
  • 20 drops stevia or honey to taste

Instructions

  1. To make the crust, combine almonds, unsweetened coconut flakes, stevia, lemon zest in a food processor. Pulse until the the almonds are ground but not too fine.
  2. Place crust contents into a bowl and mix in 1/4 cup softened coconut butter. The crust should be slightly moist.
  3. Pour crust into an 8x8 inch baking pan lined in parchment paper.
  4. To make the filling, add coconut oil and coconut butter to a small saucepan and melt over medium low heat for a few minutes until they are melted. Whisk in the stevia (or honey) and lemon zest.
  5. Then, take the filling off the heat and let cool for 1-2 minutes. Add the lemon juice to the coconut mixture and stir together. You do not want to add the lemon juice to liquid when it is hot because it will seize up a lot.
  6. Pour the lemon coconut filling over the crust. Top with additional lemon zest if desired.
  7. Refrigerate for at least an hour or until ready to serve. To speed up the process, place in the freezer.

Recipe Notes

I suggest lining the baking pan with parchment paper or even foil as it will help to remove and cut the coconut lemon squares.

Nutrition Facts
No-Bake Coconut Lemon Squares
Amount Per Serving
Calories 269 Calories from Fat 225
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 25g 38%
Saturated Fat 13g 65%
Sodium 6mg 0%
Potassium 113mg 3%
Total Carbohydrates 7g 2%
Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
Sugars 1g
Protein 3g 6%
Vitamin C 5.3%
Calcium 3.8%
Iron 5.7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Coconut Lemon Squares (GF, DF, V, SF)

 

This recipe was shared on Gluten-Free Wednesdays, Allergy Free Wednesday and Gluten Free Fridays

 

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Comments

    • Thanks Thalia! I love having them around to snack on. I leave mine in the freezer for when I have a dessert craving 🙂

      Reply

  5. Megan, these look delicious. We love lemon desserts around here, and I’m thrilled that these are no bake and grain free! Thanks for sharing at Gluten-Free Wednesdays.

    Reply

    • Thank you so much Linda! I love lemon so these are great to keep in the freezer when I have a craving for something sweet!

      Reply

    • Thanks so much Tessa! They are great to have on hand when I’m in need of a dessert that meets all of my dietary requirements 🙂 I hope you enjoy them!

      Reply

    • Hi Jackie! I haven’t tried it with regular butter and am not sure how that would turn out. You can try using more coconut oil instead of the coconut butter but it won’t be as rich as it would be with the coconut butter. Instead of regular butter, I think for a milder flavor using cashew butter, macadamia nut butter, avocado or even a banana would work. I wouldn’t melt these, I would just mix with the coconut oil and then spread over the crust. If you don’t want to use coconut butter because of availability in your grocery store, you can make your own by putting unsweetened shredded coconut in a high powdered blender (this is how I make mine). I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions 🙂

      Reply

    • Hi Luella! I answered your question in reply to Jackie’s comment. I haven’t tried any of these recommendations so please do let me know if you try them out! 🙂

      Reply

    • Hi Amanda! I normally make my coconut butter (recipe on my blog) but if I do but it I get it in jar form that is u refrigerated. Hope this helps!

      Reply

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