Everyone has their favorite dessert. Mine happens to be lemon bars. I could eat the for dessert, for breakfast, for lunch, for dinner, ALL DAY … you get the idea. Here’s a really great gluten-free and vegan recipe I can’t wait to try in my own kitchen. Image and recipe via Cinnamon Quill.
Ingredients
Crust:
¼ cup millet flour
¼ cup brown rice flour
¼ cup tapioca starch
¼ cup potato starch
1 teaspoon guar gum
1/3 scant cup powdered sugar
½ cup organic shortening
2 Tablespoons non-dairy milk
Filling:
1 1/3 cups water
3 tablespoons agar agar flakes
1 cup light brown or raw sugar
2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons cornstarch or tapioca starch or potato starch
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest (from two large lemons)
1/4 cup full-fat coconut milk
Candied Lemons + Powdered sugar for serving (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 F. Oil an 8 or 9 inch square pan. Alternately, line the pan with parchment paper (for easy removal). Mix all the crust ingredients in a mixer or food processor. It will look dry/crumbly. Transfer mixture into pan and press into an even layer, making the edges slightly higher than the rest. Bake for about 30-35 minutes, watching carefully. Remove it as soon as the edges are a bit golden brown. Let cool before adding filling (not sure if this matters). In a saucepan, combine the agar agar and water for 15 minutes. Place pan over medium heat and bring to a boil; boil about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the agar has dissolved. Add the sugar and boil for 3 more minutes, until it has dissolved in the agar mixture. Combine lemon juice and starch, stirring until starch dissolves. Add to agar-sugar mixture and lower heat. Add lemon zest and coconut milk and whisk constantly, until mixture thickens a bit, about 5-7 minutes. It should be bubbling, but not wildly boiling. The mixture may not seem terribly thick, but more syrupy; this is OK, it will thicken as it cools. Pour the filling onto the crust; if some of the filling seems to seep under the crust, don’t worry, it will thicken and not affect the quality of the crust. Let cool for 20 minutes at room temperature, then refrigerate for 3-6 hours, until filling is set. Top lemon bars with candied lemons and/or powdered sugar, if desired. Bars should be stored in refrigerator.
