Healthy vegan lemon slice

This healthy vegan lemon slice is seriously good, friends. I’m talking, possibly my favourite slice ever good and thats a big call. 7 ingredients, grain and gluten free options, easy peasy to whip up and a guaranteed crowd pleaser- you’re going to want to save this recipe.

Lemon slice was a childhood favourite for me, an Australian and New Zealand classic that was one of the first recipes kids master, back in my day. Zingy, chewy, nostalgic and… so incredibly sweet. Trying the slice as an adult I was bitterly disappointed and like so many things I loved as. child my fully grown human palette was not a fan.

So I created this healthy lemon slice instead. Naturally vegan, free from refined sugar and gluten free.

healthy vegan lemon slice

Healthy vegan lemon slice ingredients 

  • Almond meal I prefer to use almond flour for this recipe as it is finer and I like the texture better- however almond meal is much more readily available and still works great. Make sure you choose blanched almond meal or activated almond meal for etc best tasting Healthy vegan lemon slice.
  • Rolled oats– a wholegrain, there are many different types of oats but we always use organic rolled oats. Steer clear of quick oats as they are the most highly processed, and be sure to choose certified gluten free if needed.
  • Shredded coconut– the meat from fresh, whole coconut that has been dried and finely chopped. You can use flaked coconut too, just follow the gram measurements.
  • Pure maple syrup– my go-to sticky sweetener, but you can substitute for any others you prefer, eg honey, agave, coconut nectar, however maple syrup yields teh best result. Date syrup works well too. 
  • Medjool dates– a fresh fruit perfect for raw cakes because of there ability to bind the mixture.
  • Coconut oil the oil extracted from the meat of a coconut. Butter is a delicious substitute here if you don’t like coconut oil.
  • Coconut butter– delicious source of good fats coconut butter is simply coconut processed to a smooth paste.
  • Lemon– the essential citrusy flavour of our slice!

Healthy vegan lemon sliceTHE EQUIPMENT

  • Food processor
  • Cup measurements
  • Heat proof bowl + small pot for boiling water
  • A cake tin

healthy vegan lemon sliceVegan lemon slice

Vegan lemon sliceHOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN COCONUT BUTTER

You can find coconut butter at your local health food store, or possibly your supermarket (if you’re lucky enough to have a good one!), but never fear if you can’t find it, its super easy to make it yourself from the comfort of your own home. It’ll not only be far more cost effective, but its quick and easy, earth friendly (yay for no packaging), and always satisfying when you’ve whipped up your very own irresistible coconut butter.

Note- Full disclosure: I have not been able to create a coconut butter as good as store bought- perhaps they use a stone ground variety?

So, here’s the very complicated recipe you guys… are you ready?

  • 3 cups shredded coconut

Thats it!

  1. Simply blend shredded coconut in a food processor for 10 minutes, scrapping down the sides occasionally with a spatular.
  2. Store your coconut butter in a glass jar

If you want to have a go at making your own coconut condensed milk, try this recipe here.

Healthy vegan lemon slicehealthy vegan lemon sliceIf you love our vegan no bake lemon slice here’s a few of our other favourites to try

Healthy vegan lemon sliceWe hope you like this healthy vegan lemon slice recipe as much as we do!

We love hearing your feedback, so if you try this recipe please leave a review or a comment at the bottom of the page. Have a great day.

 

healthy vegan lemon slice

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Healthy vegan lemon slice

Healthy vegan lemon slice

  • Author: Jade Woodd
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes setting time
  • Total Time: 45
  • Yield: 9-12 bars 1x
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: No bake
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

This healthy vegan lemon slice has a delicious biscuity base perfectly paired with a creamy lemon coconut icing (minus all that sugar!). 7 ingredients, a grain + gluten free option, quick and easy to whip up and a guaranteed crowd pleaser (if you can bring yourself to share it..)


Ingredients

Scale

For the base

  • 120g (1 cup) almond meal (we used activated)
  • 45g (1/2 cup) rolled oats*
  • 87g (1 1/4 cups) shredded coconut
  • Pinch salt
  • 75g (1/4 cup) pure maple syrup
  • 4 Medjool dates, pitted
  • Zest from 1 organic lemon

For the icing

  • 62g (1/4 cup) coconut oil
  • 62g (1/4 cup) coconut butter *(see notes), softened
  • 40g (2 Tbsp) pure maple syrup
  • 60g/ml (3 Tbsp) lemon juice
  • Optional- 6 drops pure lemon essential oil .

Instructions

1. Add almond meal, oats, coconut and salt to a food processor and pulse to combine. You want the result to be semi-fine, but can still be slightly chunky.

2. Add remaining base ingredients and pulse to combine. The dough should be moist enough to easily hold together. Press into the base of a lined tin (mine was 15cm square).

3. Next, make your icing. Gently melt coconut oil over a low flame then remove from heat- allow to cool down for 5 minutes. You should be able to stick your finger in comfortably once cooled enough. Add remaining ingredients and blend together with a stick/immersion blender. You can use a whisk here however you won’t get it as thick and creamy- it will still taste great though, so its an option.

4.Pour over base, sprinkle with extra coconut and set in fridge until the icing is firm.

5.Your slice will last 1 week in the fridge, 3 months in the freezer.

Note: If you want to make this into mini cups like I have done in some of ethnic pictures, simple use a silicone mini muffin mould or a patty pan lined muffin tray.


Notes

*You can use buckwheat groats instead of the oats for a grain free option. I tend to make this variety now, as I don’t like to eat oats when they have not been cooked.

To make your own coconut butter, read the blog post.

To soften coconut butter (coconut manna) half fill a saucepan and bring it almost to the boil. Grab your jar of coconut butter and ensure the lid is securely screwed down. Carefully immerse the jar into the saucepan of hot water, weighing down if necessary to avoid the jar falling over. Stand for approx 5 minutes, or until the coconut butter has become liquid. Note- if the temperature of your home is cold you may need to heat the water multiple times to melt a full jar of coconut butter.

Keywords: Vegan, healthy, lemon slice, real food recipes

 

36 Comments
  1. What a fantastic replica of an old time favourite 😍
    So fresh, clean and nourishing xx

  2. These came together so quickly. I used an 8×8 pan following the 1x ingredient list. Since I had dried lavender on hand, sprinkled some on top as well. Chilled, sliced beautifully. A healthy, raw keeper!

    1. Hi Hillary,

      Thank you for the feedback ¥ I am absolutely adding lavender to mine next time. What a gorgeous addition.

  3. This slice is sooo goood. The base is chewy, lemony, sweet and filling but not sickly. Just the kinda syrupy flavour I have wished for. I used buckwheat (see recipe notes) & they’re awesome. The icing is divine and worth the effort of melting the coconut butter! Amazing recipe thanks Jade!

    1. Hi Joanne. I’m so glad you liked it- it’s like an adult version of the classic we loved as kiddies. Buckwheat is so good in there/ nice and crunchy too.

  4. I absolutely LOVE this recipe! It turned out so perfect and lemony! I was even eating it for breakfast! Easy to make with ingredients I always have in my pantry! I love your recipes Jade!

    1. Hi Laura,

      Thanks for taking the time to leave a reply- I appreciate it so much. This is one of our all time favs, so it makes me happy knowing you enjoyed it too.

  5. These are incredible! Better than the original recipe we used to love as kids!

  6. These are incredibly delicious! The lemon gives such a lightness to them! Thanks so much for the recipe.

  7. Today was my second time making these lovely fresh lemon slices, and they will definitely become a go to recipe for me. They are easy to make, and I love the no bake aspect. I didn’t have the coconut butter, so I used soaked and blended cashews instead (I’d seen this for an icing recipe before) they are not as aesthetically pleasing as Jades, but I hope to make them with the butter one day. Only problem is I want another after finishing one!
    I’m so glad I came across this website, and I look forward to trying more of the recipes.

    1. Thank you so much for your beautiful review. Cashews are so versatile- I’ll have to try that out. They disappear way too fast at our place too.

  8. Loved these bars! Perfect for a summers day, a light treat. I used an 8×8 pan and they worked well. If you want them thicker I would use a smaller pan.

  9. I really want to try these but have a nut allergy! Any suggestions for a replacing almond meal or four?

  10. We love these so much! Last time I made them was a gift for a new mother. Just made them tonight as my daughter turns six years tomorrow and wanted to hand out a these as a sweet snack for her class mates tomorrow. Thank you!

  11. These bars are INCREDIBLE!
    Every recipe of Jade’s I have made, I learn a new technique that is super adaptable and inspires further variations – so each recipe is truly a gift that keeps giving 🙂 For this recipe, the coconut butter frosting technique is something I am so happy I learned.

    I am on a strict no sugar diet and omitted the maple syrup and the bars still tasted incredible; I subbed with melted coconut oil in case the syrup was needed for binding the base.

    This is the first no-sugar dessert I’ve made that truly tastes like a dessert. I’m excited to make it with key limes next time for a key lime pie riff.

    Thank you always, Jade! <3

  12. These are the most incredible dessert. I want to sing them praise from a mountaintop. Decadent yet refreshingly light from the lemon. Coconut butter + Meyer lemon zest is my new favorite combo. For such a rewarding outcome there is surprisingly little effort involved. Just a truly wonderful recipe. Thank you!

    1. Thank you for this beautiful review Mya. Lemon is just the most gorgeous flavour + I love to celebrate it with this recipe ❤️

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