• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Health My Lifestyle
  • Meal Planner
  • Recipes
  • Learn
    • Nutrition
    • Lifestyle
  • Shop
    • Vegan Fat Loss Meal Plan
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Start Here
  • Meal Planner
  • Recipes
  • Learn
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Start Here
    • Meal Planner
    • Recipes
    • Learn
    • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Healthy Lemon Bars (Vegan and Gluten-Free)

    Jul 30, 2021 · Modified: Dec 13, 2022 by Rachel · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Healthy and delicious lemon bars with minimal prep time! These sweet and tart lemon squares only require 20 minutes in the kitchen! They're also made healthier with a few simple swaps!

    Cut lemon squares topped with powdered sugar
    Jump to:
    • Why this recipe works
    • Ingredient notes
    • How to make
    • FAQ's and Expert Tips
    • More healthy vegan summer recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why this recipe works

    Most traditional lemon bar recipes are packed with refined-sugar, processed ingredients and are not very whole food plant-based friendly.

    I've found that you don't have to give up the traditional sweet and tart flavor for something bland and cardboard-like just for the sake of healthy. In fact, with just a few simple swaps I was able to create a delicious lemon bar that's also full of healthy fats, whole grains, and provides 5g of protein (not bad for dessert!).

    Why I love this recipe:

    • Lower sweetener amounts for a not-too-overly-sweet dessert.
    • No baking of the filling required which means less time in the kitchen and less time in the kitchen means the sooner you can enjoy these bars!
    • Easy to adjust sweetness or tartness based on your preference.
    • Perfect for the summer—these bars are bright and refreshing and won't leave you feeling heavy afterwards.

    Ingredient notes

    These bars only require 11 easy to find ingredients (including salt!). Short and sweet! Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements.

    crust ingredients measured and labeled
    Crust ingredients

    Rolled oats: A great gluten-free option with lots of fiber! You can also use oat flour.

    Dates: Adds a nice natural sweetness.

    Ground flax: Helps to bind the crust together like an egg.

    Filling ingredients labeled
    Filling ingredients

    Lemon juice: This is best made fresh from lemons rather than using store-bought lemon juice as it has a different flavor from the preservatives.

    Coconut cream: Adds a lovely creaminess to the lemon bars without needing dairy!

    Coconut sugar: A great, less refined sugar. If you can't find it, here are some great coconut sugar substitutes.

    Maple syrup: This liquid sweetener adds the perfect touch of sweetness. You can also use agave syrup or one of these honey substitutes as well as long as it's a liquid sweetener.

    Turmeric: Provides a lovely yellow hue to these bars. It's optional but highly recommended!

    What makes these bars healthier?

    Naturally sweetened—Instead of large amounts of white table sugar, I opted for maple syrup and coconut sugar in the lemon filling, and dates to sweeten the crust.

    Dairy-free—No cream or butter required! Coconut cream or full fat coconut milk provides all the creaminess needed.

    Gluten-free—Although there's nothing wrong with gluten, I know many like to limit it so I opted for oats and almonds to be the base of the crust. It provides a heartier texture, making these bars more substantial and filling!

    How to make

    This step by step walk-through shows the process of making this lemon bar recipe. Exact times and temperatures are available in the recipe card at the bottom.

    1. Make the crust. Blend all ingredients for the crust in a blender or food processor until it comes together. Pinch a small amount between your fingers and if it holds together, it's a good consistency. If it crumbles and feels dry, add another tablespoon of water as need.

    2. Press the crust into a prepared baking dish lined with parchment paper and bake for 10-12 minutes until golden.

    3. Prepare the filling. Add the lemon juice and cornstarch first to a pan and whisk well to combine, then add the rest of the filling ingredients. Bring to a boil then simmer until it thickens.

    4. Pour the filling over the crust and smooth out. Allow to cool for 20-30 minutes at room temperature before transferring to the refrigerator to set up.

    5. When ready to serve, remove from pan, slice into squares and top with powdered sugar as desired!

    FAQ's and Expert Tips

    Can you freeze these?

    Yes! These freeze well. Make sure they're completely cool, then individually wrap them in parchment and store in a freezer-safe bag or container. Let them thaw in the refrigerator before enjoying.

    Can these be made nut free?

    Unfortunately I have not tested these without almonds for the crust and many gluten-free recipes will use almonds or almond flour. I recommend following a typical shortbread crust recipe and swapping for an all-purpose gluten free flour if you still want it to be gluten-free.

    How to get rid of lumps in lemon filling?

    Make sure to thoroughly dissolve the cornstarch in the lemon juice to avoid any lumps. Thoroughly whisk the two together in the pan before adding the rest of the filling ingredients. Don't turn the heat on until the cornstarch has dissolved.

    Cut lemon bars on a cutting board topped with powdered sugar

    More healthy vegan summer recipes

    • One-Pot Vegan Feta Pasta
    • Vegan Chocolate Covered Strawberries
    • Watermelon Dessert Pizza
    • Vegan Ceviche with Hearts of Palm
    • Summer Blackberry Salad

    If you enjoyed this recipe please leave a comment below and give it 5 stars! Or on Pinterest (don’t forget to follow me!) and please help me share on facebook!

    📖 Recipe

    Lemon square topped with powdered sugar

    Healthy Lemon Bars (Vegan + Gluten-Free)

    Healthy and delicious lemon bars with minimal prep time! They're also made healthier with a few simple swaps, making them only 208 calories for 9 squares or 117 calories for 16 squares.
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    course: Dessert
    cuisine: American
    servings: 9
    prep time: 10 mins
    cook time: 10 mins
    Chilled: 1 hr
    total time: 1 hr 20 mins
    Author: Rachel

    Ingredients

    For the crust:

    • ⅔ cup rolled oats, or oat flour
    • 1 cup raw almonds
    • 4-5 small dates, pitted
    • 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
    • 3 tablespoons water
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt

    For the filling:

    • ¾ cup lemon juice, about 4 large lemons
    • ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
    • ⅓ cup coconut sugar
    • 1 13.5-oz can coconut cream, or full-fat coconut milk
    • 4 tablespoons cornstarch
    • ¼ teaspoon turmeric, optional for color
    • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar, optional for topping

    Instructions

    For the crust:

    • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
    • To make the crust, add all ingredients to a food processor and blend until the mixture comes together.
    • Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper, press the mixture flat and bake for 10-12 minutes in the oven until it starts to golden. Remove and set aside.

    For the filling:

    • In a medium saucepan or skillet, add the lemon juice and cornstarch and whisk together until a slurry forms and no lumps remain. Turn the heat up to medium and add the additional filling ingredients except for the optional powdered sugar topping.
    • Whisk constantly and bring to boil for a minute, then turn down heat to a simmer until the mixture thickens; about 5 minutes.
    • Pour the filling over the crust and smooth out with a spatula or spoon as needed. Allow to cool at room temperature for 20-30 minutes, then cover and transfer to refrigerator for 1-2 hours or overnight to set.
    • When ready to serve, use a sifter to evenly distribute a thin layer of powdered sugar over top if desired and slice into bars. This recipe as written makes 9 large bars or 16 smaller bars.

    Notes

    If you only have one of the sweeteners you can substitute with the other. For example, if only using coconut sugar, double the amount to make up for the maple syrup and vice versa. You can also use regular white table sugar as well.
    These lemon squares are subtly sweet. If you like your desserts sweeter, you can increase the sweetener by half. For example, if using ⅓ cup maple syrup and ⅓ cup coconut sugar, add an additional ⅓ cup of the sweetener of your choice for a total of 1 cup sweetener.
    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze for longer. To freeze, make sure they're completely cool, then individually wrap them in parchment and store in a freezer-safe bag or container. Let them thaw in the refrigerator before enjoying.
    The powdered sugar will melt, so if you're making this recipe ahead of time, hold off adding it until just before serving.

    Recommended tools for this recipe

    Food processor
    Whisk
    Sifter
    Citrus juicer
    See more of our go-to kitchen essentials here!

    Nutrition Per Serving

    Calories: 208kcal Carbohydrates: 30g Protein: 5g Fat: 9g Saturated Fat: 1g Trans Fat: 1g Sodium: 47mg Potassium: 216mg Fiber: 3g Sugar: 16g Vitamin A: 2IU Vitamin C: 8mg Calcium: 65mg Iron: 1mg
    Want to eat healthier but don't know where to start?Get a free customizable meal plan and stop the struggle!
    Share this:

    More Plant Based Desserts

    • Easy Vegan Chocolate Covered Strawberries (2 Ingredients)
    • The Best Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes (Gluten-Free!)
    • The Best Coconut Sugar Substitutes and How to Use Them
    • The Easiest No Bake Vegan Cheesecake

    Did you grab your free meal plan yet?

    Sign up here to download it instantly!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Roxana

      August 02, 2021 at 11:52 am

      5 stars
      Wow, this sounds amazing. What a great thing to have a lemon dessert with so many nourishing ingredients in it. This is a keeper.

      Reply
      • Rachel

        August 03, 2021 at 8:48 am

        It's the best of both worlds 🙂 So glad you think so, Roxana!

        Reply
    2. Tristin Rieken

      August 02, 2021 at 11:39 am

      5 stars
      Love the dates and flax in the crust! Perfect addition to the delicious filling.

      Reply
      • Rachel

        August 03, 2021 at 8:47 am

        Thanks, Tristin! So glad you like it!

        Reply
    3. Annissa

      August 02, 2021 at 11:06 am

      5 stars
      This recipe sounds so healthy and filling. The combination of different flavors on the filling makes it so unique! Love it!

      Reply
      • Rachel

        August 02, 2021 at 5:06 pm

        Thank you so much!

        Reply
    4. Elizabeth

      August 02, 2021 at 11:02 am

      5 stars
      Who knew healthy could be so delicious? These lemon bars are fantastic!

      Reply
      • Rachel

        August 02, 2021 at 5:00 pm

        Aw thank you! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Mairead

      August 02, 2021 at 10:19 am

      5 stars
      I like the idea of adding a little turmeric for color to these delicious lemon bars. Thanks for a great gluten free recipe.

      Reply
      • Rachel

        August 02, 2021 at 4:59 pm

        It really brightens up the color even more! So glad you like it!

        Reply
        • Cara Griffin

          September 26, 2021 at 10:35 pm

          Can I use blanched almond flour instead of raw almond?

        • Rachel

          September 29, 2021 at 10:34 am

          I think that would work just fine!

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    I'm Rachel and I'm here to help you transition to a healthy plant-based diet in the easiest way possible. I share simple recipes and tips you can implement today to make it practical and approachable. Read more about my plant-based journey

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    HML Favorites

    Tofu ground beef served in vegan tacos and topped with avocado and cilantro.

    Smoky Tofu Ground Beef (Vegan Tofu Crumbles)

    Beet pasta served in a white plate and topped with crumbled vegan feta, basil leaves, and crushed pistachios.

    Easy Beet Pasta

    Roasted cherry tomato soup in a bowl with a swirl of coconut milk and topped with fresh basil leaves.

    Easy Roasted Cherry Tomato Soup

    three healthy pita pizzas with lots of veggies and toppings

    Easy Pita Pizzas 3 Ways

    Don't Miss Out!

    Sign up to receive recipes, tips, and more!

    Privacy Policy & Disclosure

    Top Recipes

    Homemade Pea Protein Powder (Easy + Vegan)

    Just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to whip these up. These bars are so easy to make, you'll never buy store-bought granola bars again. They are very filling, boasting 9g of protein using only whole food ingredients, and are vegan and gluten free! #granolabar #vegansnack #easysnack #vegan #glutenfree #healthysnack

    5-Ingredient No-Bake Granola Bars (Vegan + Gluten Free)

    Healthy Vegan Snickers Overnight Oats are going to have you wondering if you're eating breakfast or dessert. They're filling, delicious, high protein, and taste like candy! They're also gluten-free and sugar-free. #snickers #overnightoats #veganbreakfast #postworkoutsnack

    Vegan Snickers Overnight Oats

    This carrot bacon recipe is so easy and great for when you want the delicious sweet and smoky-ness of bacon! Just 8 simple ingredients, a peeler, and an oven or air-fryer is all you need. Vegan bacon can be made in many ways but this carrot bacon is one of the simplest and most similar looking to actual bacon. And did I mention delicious? #carrotbacon #veganbacon #plantbased #vegan #veganrecipe #veganbreakfast #plantbasedbreakfast #meatfree #meatlessmeals

    Carrot Bacon

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Enjoying these recipes?
    Now you can Buy Me a Coffee to help support the creation of new ones. Thank you!

    About

    • Privacy Policy & Disclosure
    • Accessibility Policy
    • About

    Shop

    • My Favorites
    • Vegan Fat Loss Meal Plan & Nutrition Guide

    Stay Connected

    • Sign Up! for a free meal plan and updates
    • Contact
    • Meal Planner Support

      Featured In

      Logos of publications that Rachel from Health My Lifestyle has been featured in including Eat This Not That, Everyday Health, Greatist, MSN, My Fitness Pal, Vegan Life Magazine, and One Green Planet.

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright © 2022 Health My Lifestyle LLC