Soooooo… my awesome girl Noelle (yes, the same one who introduced me to the most amazing dessert ever), challenged me to create the best lemon bars of life. I think the text went something like “if I know you at all, you won’t stop until you find it – I challenge you to create for me the best paleo lemon bars ever”. And she does know me – it is crazy what you can learn about someone by the way they CrossFit. Because I texted back “challenge accepted” (duh), and immediately starting thinking, researching, preparing. And now, behold. The best (paleo) lemon bars of life.
INGREDIENTS: (crust)
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2 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil
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1 1/2 tablespoons 100% pure maple syrup
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1/2 cup almond flour
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1 cups unsweetened, finely shredded coconut
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1 egg white (save yolk for lemon filling)
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Pinch sea salt
INGREDIENTS: (filling)
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3 eggs, plus 2 egg yolks (you are going to have one extra egg white – just save it, and throw it in your next batch of scrambled eggs)
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6 tablespoons 100% pure maple syrup
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1/3 cup lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
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2 tablespoons lemon zest
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1/3 cup almond flour
METHOD:
1. Turn oven on to 350F.
2. Melt coconut oil over low heat on the stove. Add maple, coconut, almond flour, and sea salt. Stir until combined. Remove from heat.
3. Add 1 egg white, and stir vigorously for 1 minute. Crust dough will be very sticky.
4. Line a 9×9 baking dish with parchment paper, and pour crust dough into dish. Using hands, press dough down in dish until compact, and evenly spread throughout.
5. Poke a few holes in the crust using a toothpick. Maybe 10. To prevent it from bubbling up when cooking. This step is important. Don’t skip it.
6. Bake crust for 10 minutes, remove from oven.
7. While crust is cooking, whisk the eggs plus the egg yolks in electric mixer until light and frothy.
8. Add the rest of the filling ingredients, and whisk for 2 minutes. Set your timer. 2 minutes, people.
9. Pour the mixture over the crust, which you already baked for 10 minutes.
10. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until edges are slightly brown and center is set.
11. Let it cool. No really, don’t eat it yet. Let it cool. It is important for it to set. Give it 30 minutes.
12. Dust with coconut flour – looks just as beautiful as powdered sugar, and nobody will be able to tell the difference. Promise.
13. Cut, and consume.
*Use organic ingredients whenever possible.
**Adapted from Green Kitchen Stories.
