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Healthy Lemon Bars

Healthy Lemon Bars

Craving something sweet yet guilt-free? Try these Healthy Lemon Bars! They’re the perfect blend of tartness and sweetness, made with wholesome ingredients. Enjoy them as a refreshing snack or dessert that’s easy to make and delicious to eat!
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Cook Time 24 minutes
Total Time 24 minutes
Servings: 11 servings
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Calories: 150
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1/3 cup Applesauce or mashed banana
  • 2 tsp Lemon zest
  • 1/3 cup Flour of choice (low carb version: Keto Lemon Bars)
  • 1 1/2 cup White beans or chickpeas (1 can, drained)
  • 1/3 cup Pure maple syrup or honey or agave
  • 1/4 cup Coconut butter or any full-fat butter spread
  • 3/4 tsp Baking powder and 1/8 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 2 tsp Pure vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Lemon juice

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Baking Sheet
  • Blender
  • Food Processor
  • Frying Pan

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. This is an important first step because a properly preheated oven ensures that your Healthy Lemon Bars bake evenly.
  2. Line or grease an 8×8 inch baking pan. This will help prevent the bars from sticking, making it easier to remove them once they’re baked.
  3. Drain and rinse the white beans or chickpeas thoroughly. This step is crucial! Rinsing removes any canned taste and ensures your bars have a fresh flavor.
  4. In a food processor, combine all the ingredients: applesauce, lemon zest, flour, white beans, sweetener, coconut butter, baking powder, salt, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Process until the mixture is completely smooth. This is where the magic happens! A smooth batter leads to a perfect texture.
  5. Spread the batter evenly into your prepared pan. Use a spatula to smooth it out, ensuring an even bake.
  6. Bake for 24 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when they’re lightly golden on top. If you want to make muffins instead, bake for about 12 minutes.
  7. Once baked, remove the bars from the oven, but don’t worry if they seem soft. They will firm up as they cool! Let them cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
  8. For a delightful frosting, melt 1/3 cup of coconut butter. If it’s too thick, add a little coconut oil to achieve a smoother consistency.
  9. Mix the melted coconut butter with your choice of sweetener until well combined. Feel free to frost the bars or simply serve them plain!
  10. Finally, enjoy your delicious Healthy Lemon Bars with family or friends. They’re sure to impress!

Notes

Tip 1: Don’t omit the lemon zest, because it gives a ton of lemon flavor.
Tip 2: If using coconut flour, only use a few tbsp (until you get a cake-batter consistency), because coconut flour is so absorbent so you won’t need the full 1/3 cup.