Vanessa Croessmann from One Green Planet notes that she has never been a fan of traditional lemon bars because of the excessive sugar they contain and the lack of lemon-like taste. So, this is why she created a fine and healthier version of this recipe, i.e. lemon and coconut squares. She mentions that if you prefer entirely sugar-free squares, you can freely omit the agave or maple syrup.
These lemon and coconut squares are the ideal vegan, healthy, gluten-free treat which requires only seven ingredients. It has a creamy texture and a zesty lemon touch. Therefore, if you are a lemon lover, this will soon become your new favorite dessert…
DIY Lemon & Coconut Squares Recipe
Needed (for the coconut flour crust):
¾ cup of coconut flour
6 tbsp of coconut oil, liquid
Half a cup of almonds
1 Medjool date
For the filling:
2 cups of coconut cream
3 tsp of lemon zest
¼ cup of lemon juice, freshly squeezed
Half a tbsp of maple syrup or agave
¼ cup of coconut, shredded
Preparation: First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and place a parchment paper in an 8×8-inch baking tray. Chop the almonds and dates in a food processor (make sure you do not process them too much). Next, mix the coconut flour and oil until you get a smooth texture and add the mixture from the food processor. Combine everything together and then pour the mixture onto the baking tray and press it into the bottom. Bake it in the oven for 8 minutes or until the edges become brownish and then take out the tray and leave it to cool down.
In the meantime, process the coconut cream, lemon zest, lemon juice, and maple syrup in the processor. Taste it and add more maple syrup or lemon juice according to your preference (sweeter or tarter). Then, pour the mixture over the cooled crust and spread it over it finely. Sprinkle some coconut on top and lightly press it.
Place the pan in the freezer and wait for an hour to set. Then, remove it from the pan carefully and put it on another plate. Store it in the fridge. Before cutting the squares, make sure it thaws slightly. After cutting the squares, keep them in the fridge and eat them within 5 days.
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