Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars Recipe (gluten and dairy-free) | The First Mess (2024)

Created by Laura Wright

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5 from 14 votes

Creamy vegan lemon bars are naturally gluten-free and loaded with tart and zesty lemon flavour. Rich, delicious, and naturally sweetened.

Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars Recipe (gluten and dairy-free) | The First Mess (1)
Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars Recipe (gluten and dairy-free) | The First Mess (2)
Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars Recipe (gluten and dairy-free) | The First Mess (3)
Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars Recipe (gluten and dairy-free) | The First Mess (4)

Sharing this amazing vegan lemon bars recipe from the Love & Lemons Every Day cookbook today! You all know that I generally don’t enjoy baking/making desserts in general, but this recipe is different.

These bars are truly a minimum fuss dessert. They hit at only 9 ingredients! And the entire process goes like this: grind up the crust in the food processor, press the crust in, blend filling until smooth, pour filling, freeze, cut, done! And for how easy they are, the flavour and richness are wild. So, SO good. I have the bars all cut up in a container in the freezer, and I just set one out to thaw a bit while we’re cleaning up after dinner. Perfect sweet relief at the end of a hot day.

This cookbook has been out since the spring and while it may just get me to enjoy making desserts again, it is very much a reference book for total vegetable enjoyment. It has over 300 pages of inspiration for any vegetable you could imagine. In addition to straightforward recipes, there are also a bunch of handy quick-reference charts for grilling vegetables, salad dressings, and quick pasta inspiration, among other things. The perfectly styled photos, ease of preparation, and the key combination of streamlined-but-unique recipes make this book so inspiring! I already love to cook, but this collection makes me want to cook even more.

Some recipes from Love & Lemons Every Day that I’m looking forward to trying soon: Chimichurri Potato Salad, Yellow Squash Turmeric Tofu Scramble, Tahini Collard Green Slaw, Chickpea Harissa Veggie Burgers, and the Flourless Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies. You can click over here to get some more glances and information about this new favourite of mine.

I hope that everyone’s July is going well! That Mercury retrograde is hitting me HARD this week, but we’re powering through. Catch you back here real soon! More citrusy treats here: tahini shakes with cinnamon and lime, winter citrus salad with rosemary rooibos syrup, and vegan chocolate orange cheesecake.

Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars Recipe (gluten and dairy-free) | The First Mess (5)
Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars Recipe (gluten and dairy-free) | The First Mess (6)
Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars Recipe (gluten and dairy-free) | The First Mess (7)
Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars Recipe (gluten and dairy-free) | The First Mess (8)

Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars

Creamy vegan lemon bars are naturally gluten-free and loaded with tart and zesty lemon flavour. Rich, delicious, and naturally sweetened.

5 from 14 votes

Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars Recipe (gluten and dairy-free) | The First Mess (9)

Print Recipe

Prep Time: 25 minutes mins

Freezing Time: 8 hours hrs

Total Time: 8 hours hrs 25 minutes mins

Servings 16 bars

Ingredients

Crust

  • 9 soft Medjool dates pitted
  • 1 cup walnuts
  • ¾ cup gluten-free whole rolled oats
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons filtered water

Filling

  • 1 14- ounce can coconut cream see notes!
  • 1 ¼ cups raw cashews
  • 2 tablespoons lemon zest
  • cup fresh lemon juice
  • cup maple syrup
  • teaspoon sea salt

Notes

  • Recipe from Love & Lemons Every Day by Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Matthews.
  • Be sure to use coconut cream as opposed to the milk!
  • These instructions are directly from the book! The only thing I added was a splash of vanilla extract to the filling.

Instructions

  • Make the crust: In a food processor, place the dates, walnuts, oats, and salt and process until the mixture comes together into a sticky ball. If necessary, gradually add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water.

  • Line a 7 x 9-inch or 8 x 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper and press the crust to the edges of the pan. The crust is very sticky, so I like to use a sheet of parchment paper on top to help smooth it out. Place the pan in the freezer while you make the filling.

  • Make the filling: In a high-speed blender, puree the coconut cream, cashews, lemon zest, lemon juice, maple syrup, and salt until smooth. Pour the filling over the crust and freeze overnight. Let thaw at room temperature for 20 minutes before slicing into bars and serving.

Author: Laura Wright

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American, Dairy-free, Egg-Free, Gluten-Free, Plant-Based, Vegan, Vegetarian

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Keyword: 10 ingredients, all seasons, cashews, coconut cream, fall, fall winter, lemon, maple syrup, medjool dates, oats, spring, summer, vanilla, walnuts

10/07/2019 (Last Updated 18/03/2024)

Posted in: cashews, creamy, dessert, gluten free, oil free, raw, spring, summer, sweet, vegan, winter

35 comments

  • Wilma B

    Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars Recipe (gluten and dairy-free) | The First Mess (10)
    This sounds delicious BUT going forward I am trying to create dishes that suite all family food sensitivities.

    Our son can’t have cashews and our daughter is low FODmap.
    In order to save money and not waste food I only now – collect and make recipes that address their health issues.
    Any SUBS ??

    Reply

  • Jenn

    What would happen if I used coconut milk instead of coconut cream?

    Reply

  • Henrike

    Thank you for the delicious sounding recipe! Can you clarify what “1 14 ounce can” (coconut cream) is? Maybe it’s because I’m in Europe that I don’t understand that. Did you mean 1 1/4 ounce? Thank you and all the best ❤️

    Reply

    • Laura Wright

      So sorry for the confusion! It’s one 14 oz can. 414 ml if you convert it!
      -L

      Reply

  • Sam

    Can you keep these on the counter or must they stay refrigerated?

    Reply

  • IH

    Hi,
    Once they are done, do we stick the leftovers back in the freezer or do they keep in the refrigerator ??

    Thanks

    Reply

  • Lana

    Made a batch last night and had a square this morn with my tea — I was impressed! Didn’t think it would taste so good. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

  • Alyssa

    Hello, this looks delicious. I am allergic to wallnuts. Is it possible to replace it by something else? Alyssa

    Reply

    • Laura

      Hi Alyssa,
      You could use pecans instead and get a similar result!
      -L

      Reply

  • Sandra

    Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars Recipe (gluten and dairy-free) | The First Mess (11)
    Excellent. Served the dessert with blueberry compote.

    Reply

  • Micayla

    Looks wonderful! Any ideas on how to incorporate some lavender in the recipe? I think it pairs really nicely with lemon.

    Reply

    • Laura

      Hi Micayla! I would try crushing up about 1-2 teaspoons of culinary lavender and working it into the crust/base layer of this recipe.
      -L

      Reply

  • Veronica

    These look amazing! I can’t wait to try these during my break home from college.

    Reply

  • Sarah

    Do you soak the cashews before hand?

    Reply

    • Laura

      Nope! If you have a high speed blender, there is no need to soak the cashews beforehand.
      -L

      Reply

      • Leah

        Would it matter if you did soak them before hand?

        Reply

        • Laura

          No I don’t think so! If anything, I think the filling mixture would blend up faster and would likely be even smoother/creamier.
          -L

          Reply

  • Sophie

    Could I used roasted cashews instead of the raw ones? Thank you!!!

    Reply

    • Laura

      Unfortunately I think roasted cashews might have too strong of a flavour for these lemon bars! They might taste more like cashew bars than lemon ones ;)
      -L

      Reply

  • Marthe

    This recipe ist DELICIOUS. I´ve already made it with lemon juice and I also tried it oncewith pineapple juice and once with strawberry juice. The three of them were amazing

    Reply

  • Dana

    My Love and Lemons cookbook lives on my kitchen counter along with my First Mess cookbook! Haven’t tried the lemon bars yet (but now I will!) but I can tell you the flourless almond cookies are fantastic (and also easy!).

    Reply

  • Vanessa

    Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?

    Reply

    • Laura

      I kept mine in the freezer for a couple weeks!
      -L

      Reply

  • Suzanne

    This looks so good! Do you use this crust for any other recipes?

    Reply

    • Laura

      I haven’t yet. I think it would be great as a raw and vegan cheesecake base. You could even roll it up into little energy bites.
      -L

      Reply

      • Mejoule crust

        Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars Recipe (gluten and dairy-free) | The First Mess (12)
        I have used mejoule dates to make a crust for an all vegan chocolate tort, and it turned out perfectly.

        Reply

  • Slaven

    These look amazing! Love lemon desserts in the summer!

    Reply

  • Cassie Thuvan Tran

    Those lemon bars look so beautiful. The Love and Lemons’ cookbook is probably spectacular, so lovely, refined, and sophisticated! I will say, I probably will end up eating the crust recipe on its own!

    Reply

  • Hanhna

    These look so good! I really want to try to make these. May I ask what brand of coconut cream do you use and where do you buy it? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Laura

      I’ve used Thai Kitchen, Grace brand, and Trader Joe’s coconut cream in the past. All of them good! I find these in most supermarkets in their International section near the Caribbean or Thai food items that they have.
      -L

      Reply

  • Lin Willett

    Just the ingredients for the crust have me ready to make this! Yum.

    Reply

  • Harpreet

    These look great! I recently inherited a giant bag of limes … do you think these would be tasty made with limes instead of lemons?

    Reply

    • Laura

      A creamy lime bar would be so refreshing and good! Especially with all of that coconut cream. Yum!
      -L

      Reply

  • Kate

    I REALLY need to make these. Lemon desserts are our go to treats for the summer as they are often very refreshing. And they are so pretty!

    Reply

Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars Recipe (gluten and dairy-free) | The First Mess (2024)

FAQs

Why did my lemon bars fall apart? ›

There are a couple of things that can impact the integrity of your lemon bars. The first is if your crust has cracks in it and the lemon curd fills in the cracks. This can cause your lemon bar to break! It may also break if you don't bake the crust long enough or the lemon layer is underbaked.

Why did the top of my lemon bars crack? ›

Don't Over-Bake.

If you leave them in the oven too long, it can cause your bars to crack. The surface of your lemon bars should have small bubble holes, but not large cracks.

Why are my lemon bars gooey? ›

To avoid them being too gooey make sure you allow them to set completely when you take them out of the oven. You know when lemon bars are done when you move the pan a bit and they don't jiggle. You should cut the lemon bars when they are completely cool.

Why do my lemon bars look like scrambled eggs? ›

Why do my lemon bars look like scrambled eggs? If your lemon bars look like scrambled eggs, it's because you've overcooked them. The key to perfect lemon bars is to cook them until the filling is set, but not too long. You want the filling to be firm but still have a little bit of jiggle to it when you shake the pan.

Should homemade lemon bars be refrigerated? ›

Lemon bars should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated in order to prevent bacterial growth or foodborne illness. The filling in lemon bars is made with eggs and can become a breeding ground for bacteria if it's kept in the danger zone (between 41 and 153 degrees F).

How do you cut lemon bars without making a mess? ›

I often have trouble cutting up any sort of cookie bar, not just lemon bars. I have found that a hot, wet, very sharp knife helps quite a bit. Also, make sure the bars are completely chilled before cutting.

Why won t my lemon bars set? ›

Runny lemon bars - This is a common issue for people who are making lemon bars for the first time. Usually, it just means that you need to bake your bars longer. If your bars seem to brown at the edges, you can cover them with aluminum foil and turn down the heat.

Can you leave lemon bars out over night? ›

Serving, Storing, and Freezing

Serving: Lemon bars are fine to keep out at room temperature for up to 6 hours or so. Storing: Store cooked lemon bars or leftovers in the refrigerator. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and store for up to 2 days. Make-Ahead: You can make lemon bars up to two days in advance.

What is the white stuff floating in my lemon juice? ›

Basically, its the white stuff inside the lemon. It is likely a combination of placenta, vesicle, endocarp, and possibly some mesocarp. Little tiny bits of lemon. Many commercial juice preparers will include the zest ground very fine as it has a lot of oil and flavour.

Why are my lemon bars Brown? ›

Why are my lemon bars brown on top? Check your oven temperature with an oven thermometer periodically to make sure the settings are correct. If you find that your desserts brown too quickly on the top, bake on a lower rack in your oven to prevent this from happening.

What does it mean if a lemon is squishy? ›

Lemons that have gone bad typically become very soft. They may become slimy, look shriveled, or contain visible mold. If your lemons display any of these signs, it's best to just toss them out.

Why does my lemon drizzle cake collapse? ›

5. My cake has sunk in the middle. There are three main reasons for this: a/ the oven door has been opened before the cake has set, b/ the cake didn't go in the oven as soon as the mixture was ready or c/ there's too much raising agent.

Why did my lemon bars invert? ›

Set a timer for 5 minutes after pulling the crust from the oven to ensure it doesn't cool too much—if the shortbread is allowed to reach room temperature, the uncooked lemon curd will slip off the top and pool in the bottom of the dish, turning your lemon bars upside down (sounds bananas until it happens to you!).

How do you keep lemon fruit from dropping? ›

To prevent excessive fruit drop, make sure to water deeply and frequently during hot spells. Mulching around your tree can help protect the tree from drying out between watering and subsequently protect against the loss of immature fruit.

Can you leave lemon bars at room temperature? ›

Serving: Lemon bars are fine to keep out at room temperature for up to 6 hours or so. Storing: Store cooked lemon bars or leftovers in the refrigerator. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and store for up to 2 days. Make-Ahead: You can make lemon bars up to two days in advance.

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