These Lemon Oatmeal Bars are easy, healthy breakfast bars loaded with fiber and protein and made with no eggs, no dairy, no gluten, and no refined sugar!
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Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line an 8-inch square pan with non-stick parchment paper. Set aside.
In a mixing bowl, add almond flour and lemon zest. Use your fingertips to rub the lemon zest onto the almond flour.
Add quick oats, chia seeds, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and lemon juice.
Stir with a rubber spatula at first, then lightly oil or wet your hands and squeeze the dough to bring everything nicely together into a sticky dough. If too dry or crumbly, simply add a teaspoon of water to stick everything together.
Using a rubber spatula, press the batter into an even layer in the prepared baking pan.
Sprinkle sliced almonds on top and press firmly with your fingertips to stick to the dough.
Bake for 30 minutes at 350°F (180°C) until nicely golden brown.
Let them cool down for 15 minutes at room temperature in the pan. Then lift the hanging parts of parchment paper and place them on a wire rack to cool for 1 hour. The cooling down firm up the bar.
Transfer them another 1 hour in the fridge for another hour before cutting, so they are firm and nice.
Lemon Glaze - optional
If you like a sweet lemon glaze, prepare the lemon glaze by stirring powdered sugar and lemon juice in a small mixing bowl. It should form a thick and creamy paste.
Drizzle over the cold bar.
Sprinkle extra lemon zest on top if you like its tangy flavor.
Use a long, sharp knife to cut into 9 bars/squares.
Notes
Note 1: Use ultra-fine almond flour, not almond meal, as this would make dry, fragile cookies. I haven't tried another flour, and I can't guarantee oat flour or regular flour works the same. The closest flour to almond flour is sesame seed flour, so if you want a nut-free version, you should try that!Note 2: Quick oats are finer than rolled oats, and they firm up the bars. Don't use rolled oats, as the bars would be fragile. You can pulse rolled oats 2-3 times in a food processor to make your own quick oats. Use gluten-free certified oats if needed, or swap for quinoa flakes for a fully gluten-free option.Note 3: Or flaxmeal, this helps with the firmness of the bars. I highly recommend not skipping them.Note 4: Any liquid sweetener, like agave syrup or coconut nectar, works.Note 5: I am using lemon juice from one fresh lemon and grating its zest to add a tangy flavor to the cookie dough. You can use store-bought or freshly pressed lemon juice if preferred.Note 6: Or shredded coconut, unsweetened.
Tips
Citrus Options: You can easily swap the lemon juice and zest for lime if you want to try a different tangy flavor profile.Binding: I recommend using either chia seeds or flax meal to ensure the bars firm up properly. Don't skip these, as they are essential for the best chewy texture.Coconut Twist: For a tropical flavor, try stirring 1/4 cup of shredded coconut into the dough or sprinkling it on top instead of the sliced almonds.Storage: Store the cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freeze up to 1 month in freezer bags and thaw at room temperature the day before.
Oven Mode: I use the fan-forced (convection) mode. If you have to use conventional mode, I recommend increasing the temperature by 25°F (15°C). The baking time should be the same, but it might take a few more minutes.