Easy Vegan Lemon Bars
Vegan Lemon Bars are a dessert dream come true! Made with shortbread crust and loaded with tangy lemon flavor, you’d never guess that these easy lemon squares are vegan!
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Vegan Lemon Bars, aka lemon squares (… what do you call them?), have been highly requested (endless requests) since I began Jessica in the Kitchen. After making them myself, I finally understand why. These vegan lemon squares are DIVINE!
These dessert bars are equal parts bright, tart, and sweet, and they will blow your mind! Their fresh, zesty flavor makes them the perfect treat for summer, even though I will definitely be making them year-round. The moment you sink your teeth into the buttery shortbread crust topped with the soft, lemon-meringue-type filling, you’ll know why I love these bars so much.
Enough said, let’s get to baking and tasting!
Notes on the Ingredients
Let’s talk ingredients! I wanted the baking process to be easy (i.e., you and I not having to use three kinds of sugar) so I included maple syrup into the crust, too.
For the Shortbread Crust
- Flour: I used all purpose flour, but you can use gluten free if needed.
- Maple Syrup: As I mentioned above, this will add sweetness to the dessert without you having to use a bunch of other sugars.
- Oil: Keep in mind you may have to use a little extra if the crust looks too dry.
For the Lemon Filling
- Cashews: You’ll need raw, unsalted cashews. Soak them in hot water for at least 1 hour before starting.
- Coconut Cream: From a tin of coconut cream or milk. Use the thick creamy part, NOT the coconut water.
- Cornstarch: To thicken up the filling so that it will sit properly on top of the crust.
- Lemon Juice and Zest: They are lemon bars, after all. I recommend using the juice and zest of a fresh lemon.
- Maple Syrup
- Vanilla Extract: To add sweetness that will complement the maple syrup.
- Sea Salt: To balance and enhance the sweet flavor of these bars.
- Turmeric: For the pretty yellow color!
How to Make Vegan Lemon Bars
Making these vegan maple lemon bars won’t take you long at all. There’s just 3 easy steps that you’ll need to follow to complete the shortbread crust, and then you can get started on the filling!
For the Shortbread Crust
Preheat the Oven to 350°F/180°C: Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper, so that the paper hangs over the side for easy removal.
Combine the Crust Ingredients: Mix all of the crust ingredients together with a spatula or your hands, until it sticks together. Press evenly into the baking dish. Add the extra tablespoon of oil if it is too dry.
Bake the Crust: Bake for 10 minutes uncovered. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before adding the batter for the lemon filling on top.
For the Lemon Filling
Blend the Ingredients: In a high powered blender, add all of the lemon filling ingredients. For the turmeric, start with ⅛ teaspoon then add more if you desire (it doesn’t add any taste, only colour). Blend all of the ingredients together until the mixture is very smooth. If you’re not using a high powered blender, blend another time to ensure all of the cashew pieces are completely blended. Taste test, and adjust if necessary.
Add the Filling to the Crust: Once the crust has cooled, pour the filling on top. Tap on the counter lightly to remove any bubbles.
Bake: Bake for 23 to 25 minutes, until the centre is set. Allow to cool completely on the counter (about an hour), and then place in the fridge for at least 4 hours to set. Top with powdered sugar (optional), cut into bars, and serve. Enjoy!!
Tips for Success
Lemon bars are a supremely easy dessert to mix together, especially when you’re aware of a couple of helpful tips. These are some of the things I do to ensure that I get tender yet crisp lemon bars every time I make them:
- Let them set in the fridge. I know it’s hard, but these need to be fully set before you cut into them. Trust me. When I made them, I let them cool for a few hours and then set in the fridge overnight, although 4 hours in the fridge should be enough time. They’ll have the right consistency and be even more delectable. Trust me – the wait will be worth it!
- If you can’t find coconut cream… put 1 can (14 ounces) of full fat coconut milk in the fridge overnight. After being refrigerated overnight, Scoop the solids of the coconut cream out of the jar, then pour off (or save for later) the coconut water left behind. They should come out to about ¾ cup every time from a 14 ounce can.
- Use kitchen tools to press the crust into the pan. You can use a spoon or the bottom of a measuring cup to help you do this. The crust will seem a bit sticky because of the maple syrup, so just using your hands might be a challenge.
- They’re taste-test friendly: This is probably my favorite reason to make these lemon bars. Figuring out how tangy or sweet you want these bars really comes down to personal preference, so you get to taste while you bake. Just make sure you have enough lemon filling at the end to cover the crust!
Serving Suggestions
- Sprinkle some powdered sugar over the tops – it looks pretty and tastes great!
- Chop up some strawberries (or other berries) to place on top of them, or make yourself a raspberry syrup!
- Finally, if you’ve got guests to impress, you can decorate with lemon slices. Just cut circular slices of lemon, place one on top of each bar, dust with a little powdered sugar, and you’re done!
How to Store Lemon Bars
I like to store these lemon bars in an airtight or covered container in the fridge for up to a week. Now, I’ve never had them last to the end of the week, but that’s your hypothetical expiration date!
Can I Freeze These Lemon Bars?
Definitely. Freeze these lemon bars between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for 1-2 months. Thaw them overnight in the fridge before enjoying again.
Related Recipes
Easy Vegan Lemon Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 cup flour, (148g) gluten free if needed
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup, (30mL)
- ¼ cup oil, +1 extra tablespoon if it looks too dry
Lemon Filling
- 1 cup raw unsalted cashews, (148g), soaked in hot water for at least 1 hour
- ¾ cup coconut cream, from a tin of full fat coconut cream or milk – the thick creamy part, NOT the coconut water*
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch, (30g)
- ½ cup lemon juice
- ¼ cup +1 tablespoon maple syrup, (60mL)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon of sea salt
- ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon turmeric, for colour
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
Crust
- Preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C.
- Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper, so that the paper hangs over the side for easy removal.
- Mix all of the crust ingredients together with a spatula or your hands, until it sticks together. Press evenly into the baking dish. You can use a spoon or the bottom of a measuring cup to help you. It’ll seem a bit sticky because of the maple syrup. Add the extra tablespoon of oil if it is too dry.
- Bake for 10 minutes uncovered. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before adding the batter for the lemon filling on top.
Lemon Filling
- In a high powered blender, add all of the lemon filling ingredients. For the turmeric, start with ⅛ teaspoon then add more if you desire (it doesn’t add any taste, only colour).
- Blend all of the ingredients together until the mixture is very smooth. If you’re not using a high powered blender, blend another time to ensure all of the cashew pieces are completely blended. Taste test, and adjust if necessary
- Once the crust has cooled, pour the filling on top. Tap on the counter lightly to remove any bubbles.
- Bake for 23 to 25 minutes, until the centre is set. Allow to cool on the counter until completely cooled (about an hour), and then place in the fridge for at least 4 hours to set.
- Top with powdered sugar (optional), cut into bars, and serve. Enjoy!!
Notes
Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
You’re adorable, Jessica! I’m enjoying many of your vegan recipes!
Thanks for the lemon bar recipe. My favorite treat ever!!!
ng
Aww thank you so much Nancy!! I hope you enjoy it thoroughly!!!
Hi.
Can you substitute agar agar or tapioca starch for cornstarch?
I have a corn allergy.
Thank you
Hi Grace,
Yes you can sub tapioca starch!
Hi Jessica! Your Vegan lemon bars sound amazing! I’m confused about the filling directions though. At first you say “in a standard mixer” but then it changes to a “ Blender”. I’m thinking a blender would work best so that the cashews get pulverized well but just making sure !
Hi Cindy,
Thank you *so* much for pointing that out to me! It’s definitely blender! I hope you enjoy so much!
Is it 1/2 cup of lemon juice or 40ml?
Hi MelG,
It’s definitely 1/2 cup! I don’t know what happened with the mL amount, but I’ve removed that will fix it! I hope you enjoy!
HI there!
Your lemon bars sound like a perfect treat to add to my wedding dessert bar! I’m wondering if you think I could make them ahead of time and freeze them to save for the big day? Thanks so much!
Hi Natasha! Congrats on the big day! We actually are not sure how that might turn out. But try it out before the big day! Let us know how it goes!
Hi Jessica! I am in the midst of making these lemon bars and I’ve baked them for 25 min but the center is very liquidy yet. In your comments before the recipe it says you cooked them for a few hours… should I allow them to bake longer than the instructed 25 minutes?
They are smelling and looking delicious so far! Thank you!
Hi Angel! We’re happy you enjoyed it despite the slight hiccup.
You typically bake the crust for 10 minutes, then the lemon bars for 25 minutes until the centre is set. Allowing them to cool on the counter for a few hours is an important step before cutting into them. Then you can place them in the fridge for at least 4 hours to set.
These are amazing! I made a batch and took them to work about a month ago and they were gone in minutes! I was still getting requests for them before we were asked to stay home for the near future. So I’ll definitely be making them again!
Awesome! We’re so happy you like them enough to keep making them, and for you to get requests that’s the cherry on top. I hope you have an excellent day! Thank you so much for reading!
yum! i made these for a social-distance picnic and they were super good. i used oat flour in the shortbread, just because i had it, and it worked perfectly. the lemon part set very firm and they are nice and yellow without any turmeric flavor. thank you!! i will definitely make these again this summer
Thank you so much Naomi! We’re so happy that they worked for you! Thanks again for reading!
I loved these vegan lemon bars! They’re chewy, so tasty and they also look delicious. I liked the cashews and coconut combination, it made the filling light and sweet, almost like a little cheesecake. Perfect treat for a high tea!
We’re so happy that you enjoyed this recipe Jill! Thank you so much for reading and leaving such a nice comment!
These bars turned out amazing! I made them today with my niece and they were super easy to whip up and extremely delicious! Hardest part was probably waiting for them to firm up in the fridge haha. Definitely recommend giving them a try, we followed the recipe exactly and they turned out perfectly. Thanks, Jessica!