Recipe Directions
- 1. Place almonds in food processor and process into a fine powder.
- 2. Add dates, vanilla, lemon juice (if using fresh squeezed don't let any lemon seeds go into the recipe!) and lemon zest to food processor.
- A note re: lemon zest: Lemon zest is simply lemon peel. If you don't have a fancy zester, just do what I do: use a clean carrot peeler and "peel" the lemon with your carrot peeler and throw the big chunky peels into the food processor for processing. Done!
- 3. Process again until well mixed. Depending on how hard your dates are this could be a wild ride!
- 4. Once everything seems pretty well processed thus far, set food processor lemon bar mixture aside for a moment.
- 5. In a large mixing bowl, place your dried coconut and salt. Mix with a spoon to distribute sea salt.
- 6. Now dump your food processor mixture into the mixing bowl. Mix everything together with your clean hands so that it's nicely combined and resembling a delicious lemon bar dough!
- 7. Transfer your raw lemon bar dough into your final dish. I like to use a glass brownie dish. Now press the mixture down into the dish with your hands so that the mixture sticks together nicely.
- 8. Ideally, you should refrigerate your raw lemon bars for about an hour so that they really stick together and are easy to cut.
- 9. Enjoy your raw lemon bars! Their lemony coconut flavor goes really well with fresh or thawed strawberries. They should be stored in the refrigerator.
The Rawtarian's Thoughts
By The Rawtarian Raw lemon bars recipe... How do I love thee? Let me count the lemony-coconutty raw ways...
Before I went raw I used to love lemon bars made with lemon and coconut. Lemon bars are so sweet and flavorful and I used to eat them quite frequently as a sweet snack.
So when I went raw I knew I needed a substitute. Surprisingly, these raw lemon bars are easy to whip up and the taste is pretty similar to the lemon bar recipes that I remember from days of yore!
This raw lemon bar recipe is pretty easy to make, you just need to food process almost everything, mix recipe together with your hands, and then press it down into a pan with your hands. The toughest part of making raw lemon bars is getting the dates to process well, especially if your dates aren't fresh.
Tip: Be careful if doubling this raw lemon bar recipe. You might want to make two batches right after one another instead of making one huge batch because it can be tough to get everything to move well in the food processor.
Tip: If your dates are rock-hard try softening them by soaking them in warm water for half-an-hour, then squeezing almost all water out of them before using in this raw lemon bar recipe.
Recipe Photos
Nutrition Facts
- This recipe is very low in Carbohydrates.
- This recipe is low in Calories.
- This recipe is a good source of Dietary Fiber, Riboflavin, and Vitamin E.
- This recipe is a noteworthy source of Protein, and Iron.
Amounts per 65 g (2 oz) suggested serving
| Name | Amount | % Daily |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 268 | 11 % |
| Protein | 5 g | 9 % |
| Fat | 17 g | 21 % |
| Carbohydrates | 28 g | 8 % |
| Dietary Fiber | 6 g | 20 % |
| Sugars | 20 g | |
| Calcium | 63 mg | 6 % |
| Iron | 1.4 mg | 10 % |
| Sodium | 224 mg | 10 % |
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Comments and Reviews
All
The Rawtarian
Dec 01, 2011
It's supposed to be unsweetened (but if all you have is sweetened then you CAN use it but it won't be raw)
Christine
Oct 21, 2011
hi. im new here, thanks for the site. is there anything that i can substitute for the coconut (for both this recipe and your lemon cookie recipe)? i appreciate any help that you can offer. thanks.
The Rawtarian
Oct 22, 2011
How come, are you allergic to coconut?
I don't think there is anything you can sub in the raw lemon bars recipe. Coconut is integral in this one.
However, for the lemon cookies you can probably substitute for less coconut and more cashews in equal parts.
Good luck
Jessica MacBride
May 30, 2013
I am allergic to coconut. For substituting coconut flakes--any suggestions?
The Rawtarian
Jun 02, 2013
Hi Jessica, sorry, this recipe is all about the coconut so best to use a different recipe completely. Sorry about that!
Miriam
Sep 13, 2011
We all loved these and I will definitely make them again. I poured boiling water over the dates and soaked them for a few hours. I drained them quite well but perhaps this made the batter stickier than it might have been otherwise. Regardless they are a wonderful sweet treat minus the guilt! My dh was surprised to hear there was no sugar added and the kids loved them too. Thank you for all the wonderful recipes, you are my inspiration to better eating for my whole family!
The Rawtarian
Sep 13, 2011
Hi Miriam, I am so glad you liked it and that your DH enjoyed it too,
I don't know about you, but I think the stickier the batter the better!
I am glad to be an inspiration for better eating for your whole family. That is the highest compliment you could give :)
Cara
Sep 11, 2011
I found your website a few days ago :) And this was the first recipe I have tried (and actually followed exactly!) They are wonderful! My husband has just enjoyed his first taste and is impressed and happy for me to spend more time in the kitchen!
Your recipes sound great, nicely explained and easy to make. Thank you for taking the time to share. Having only yesterday ungraded to a high speed blender (not a Vitamix as they are very difficult to come by where I live) I am super excited about the possibilities that await. I will definitely be making more of your recipes especially as I also invested in a food processor so I am literally dreaming of what foods I can create!
Your website has helped to inspire me with the phase that I am in at the moment. Thank you! You will be hearing from me again!
Lara
Oct 15, 2012
I know EXACTLY what you mean by "literally dreaming" of adventures in food. :o) Food excites me! The thought of breakfast often keeps me up at night.
The Rawtarian
Nov 02, 2012
Love it Lara!
The Rawtarian
Sep 11, 2011
Hi Cara,
:) Thank you for your kind words.
Congrats on your HS blender and food processor!
Please keep me posted on which recipes you try, and which turn out GREAT and which ones you didn't like, too :)
Also, I always love to hear what husband's think :)
Warmth
Laura-Jane
Ren
Sep 10, 2011
This looks like an excellent energy bar! I'm going to try it with brazil nuts instead of almonds, my taste buds tell me to do so and I love my dose of selenium.
Ren
Sep 14, 2011
I made the lemon bars with 3/4 c sunflower seeds, 1/8 c sesame seeds, and 1/8 c flaxseed instead of the almonds and they turned out excellent! Might be a good option if folks are allergic to tree nuts. I'll keep playing with variations.
The Rawtarian
Sep 14, 2011
Nice substitutions! I love making substitutions like that, especially if it means that I can make something ASAP rather than having to run to the grocery store. :) Thanks for sharing your tweaks, Ren. :)
The Rawtarian
Sep 11, 2011
Always gotta listen to the tastebuds. They lead us to yummy places!
Court
Sep 08, 2011
Just made these this afternoon! Love that you've been adding more and more recipes! These were a huge hit with my family. Not too sweet and a great lemony-coconut flavor! Thanks!!
The Rawtarian
Sep 09, 2011
Hi Court, I am so glad they worked out well for you :)
Thanks for coming back and letting me know. I like to know what you guys think!
And thanks for noticing that I've been posting more lately. I am trying to post a new recipe every monday, although I don't want to commit to that too officially because I go in fits and spurts :)
hilary
Sep 08, 2011
Is there anything else possible to use other than ... dates?
Thanks,
H.
Monika
Feb 26, 2013
My roommate made this but she used figs and its GOOD!!
The Rawtarian
Feb 27, 2013
Yum! You chose a good roommate Monika :)
The Rawtarian
Sep 08, 2011
Hi! Yes, definitely. You could try raisins. You could also try apricots--if you use apricots you'll need to add a little extra sweetener--like honey or agave or something.
Good luck!
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