Tangy and light, these vegan lemon bars make a delicious dessert, particularly when served with coconut vegan ice cream. Using xylitol helps keep the overall sugar content down. These can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Why they’re good for you:

Using almonds and gluten-free oats in the base keeps these bars gluten-free and provides slow-releasing carbs, healthy fats and protein to help balance blood sugar levels, keeping you energised.

Ingredients

Filling

• 125g cashew nuts soaked in warm water for 4 hours then drained
• 225g coconut cream – the top of a can of full-fat coconut milk
• 2 Tbsp cornflour
• 125ml Lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
• zest of 2 lemons
• Pinch sea salt
• 60g xylitol
• 1tbsp maple syrup

Base

• 125g gluten-free oats
• 125g ground almonds
• pinch of sea salt
• 3tbsp xylitol
• 100g coconut oil, melted
• 1tsp vanilla extract

Method

Makes: 16 bars

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 20 minutes

1. Line a 20cm square baking tin with parchment paper.
2. Preheat the oven to 190C, gas mark 5.
3. Add the oats, almonds, sea salt, xylitol to a food processor and blitz until fine. Add the remaining ingredients and blend briefly to form a soft dough. If too crumbly add a dash of water.
4. Spoon the mixture into the baking tin and press down firmly.
5. Bake for 15 minutes, then decrease the heat to 180C and bake for 10-15 minutes until lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven.
6. For the filling blend all the ingredients together in a high-speed blender until smooth and
7. creamy.
8. Pour the filling over the crust and spread into an even layer.
9. Bake for 20 minutes or until just firm.
10. Allow the bar to cool completely then place in the fridge for 3-4 hours to firm up.
11. Cut into squares to serve

Note:

You could swap the almonds in the base for another nut – walnuts and pecans are particularly good. Cut the bar into squares and freeze. You could serve this as a frozen dessert if wished.

Christine Baile an award-winning functional nutritionist, chef and author who has over 14 health and recipe books to her name. To discover more of her recipes and buy her books visit christinebailey.co.uk