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Healthy lemon bars that are gluten free and paleo make for the most perfect easy summer dessert. Made with an almond flour and coconut flour crust, and a simple filling sweetened with only maple syrup. Your whole family will love this healthy dessert recipe.
Have you ever made lemon bars before? How about healthy lemon bars? No? Well we are about to change that and I’m pretty certain that it won’t be the last time that you do because it is easy and incredibly delicious.
Traditional lemon bars, while super tasty and one of my favorite childhood desserts, are packed with less than healthy ingredients, so in a typical Erin Lives Whole effort to take a traditional baked good and turn it into a healthier dessert.
And so that’s exactly what I did! I created a healthy lemon bar recipe made totally gluten free with ingredients like coconut flour and almond flour. Instead of refined white sugar we replaced it with natural maple syrup, but I swear that healthy eaters and non healthy eaters a like will love this recipe!
Ingredients in healthy lemon bars
There are only a few simple ingredients in this recipe for healthy lemon bars. You may already have all of the ingredients on hand. Now you’re well on your way to making some of the best creamy, yet firm enough to hold together lemon bars.
Lemon bar crust
Lemon bar filling
- eggs
- lemon juice (freshly squeezed!)
- maple syrup
- lemon zest
- coconut flour
How to make lemon bars
You’ll want to start by making the crust! We use a blend of almond flour and coconut flour for the crust, as I’ve found that yields the sturdiest result while still being moist enough. All almond flour and it is too soft. All coconut flour and it is too dry. So we meet in the middle and found a perfect crust!
Mix together your flours, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt. This will create a dough that you should be able to press into a greased or parchment lined 8×8 pan. Then throw that baby in the oven and bake!
While the crust is baking, prepare your filling so that you will be ready to pour it on top of your hot crust right when it comes out of the oven!
Squeeze your lemons to get fresh lemon juice, then whisk that together with eggs, maple syrup, and lemon zest. Sift in your coconut flour for extra fine texture and then whisk until there are no clumps!
Right when your crust is done baking, lower the oven temp down and pour your filling on top. Let it bake until set in the middle (a little jiggle is ok!) then cool at room temperature. Once cool, refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
Cut and serve! I like to sprinkle powdered sugar on top as well. So good!
What’s the best way to store lemon bars?
Store the lemon bars in the refrigerator. They are best eaten within 48 hours, as the crust will begin to get a little bit soft. So these are one of those desserts that best made the night before and served the next day!
We also freeze any leftovers and then defrost in the fridge to eat for the next day.
If you make this recipe, be sure to comment below and let me know how it was! Also tag @erinliveswhole on Instagram and use the hashtag #erinliveswhole so I can see it and feature you!
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
Healthy Lemon Bars (Gluten-Free)
Healthy lemon bars that are gluten free and paleo make for the most perfect easy summer dessert. Made with an almond flour and coconut flour crust, and a simple filling sweetened with only maple syrup. Your whole family will love this healthy dessert recipe.
Ingredients
Crust
- 1.5 cups almond flour
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 tsp salt
Filling
- 3 eggs + 1 egg yolk
- 3/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 4 large lemons)
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tbsp coconut flour, sifted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper or nonstick spray.
- In a bowl, mix together all of your crust ingredients until well combined.
- Press into the bottom of the 8×8 baking dish and bake for 15 minutes.
- While crust is baking, whisk together all filling ingredients, adding sifted coconut flour last. Whisk until all clumps are gone.
- Once crust comes out of the oven, pour filling immediately on top.
- Lower oven temp to 325F and bake for 20-22 minutes or until filling is set. A little jiggle is ok!
- Let cool at room temperature for 30 minutes then transfer to fridge for at least 3 hours.
- Add powdered sugar (not paleo, but delicious) and cut and serve!
*Notes for storing in post.
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Nikki says
I have baked without sugar or regular flour for years…This is one of the best tasking baked goods I have made! YUM!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Nikki, so happy you loved them!! 🙂
Karen L says
These were fantastic, and so easy! I’m at high elevation so I did add an extra TBSP of coconut flour to the crust, and did more of a heaping TBSP for the filling. Came out perfectly delicious.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Karen, so happy you loved the bars! 🙂
Krista says
So light, refreshing, and delicious! Simple ingredients. So good!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Krista, so glad you loved them!!
Wynona Beyer says
Can you add protein powder to any of the bar recipes?
Erin says
Hi Wynona, yes feel free! Maybe add a little extra liquid too depending on the consistency once the powder is added so it isn’t too dry.
nikki says
i make these ALL summer long, and i have actually started doing key lime juice (instead of lemon juice) to make a key lime variation. the crust is insanely good. i always bring these to summer events and people can’t believe how simple/healthy the filling is. love love love! 10/10
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Nikki, I am so glad you liked them! Thanks for sharing!!