Coconut Cashew Lemon Bars

Lemon Bars! This bar recipe is vegan and free of refined sugar, refined flours and gluten, but you won't notice because these are so tasty and lemony! Full of healthy fats, with no cooking required.

Crust Ingredients:

1/2 cup pitted dates
2 cups unsweetened dried (desiccated) coconut + 2-3 extra tbsp extra for topping
1/2 c almond flour (you can prepare your own by pulsing whole almonds into a coarse flour)
1/3 cup melted coconut oil
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp maple syrup

Filling Ingredients:  

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp lemon zest
2 cups soaked and drained cashews (soaked in water 4 hours + or over night)
1 can chilled coconut milk, use only the cream from the top, not the water (you can save this for something else if you like, I like to freeze it in ice cube trays to add to smoothies or use it to cook rice)
1/4 - 1/2 raw honey or maple syrup depending on how sweet you want to make these (can also sub for stevia or monk fruit for sugar free * use less)
2 tbsp arrowroot powder for thickening (can sub tapioca or rice flour)
1 tsp vanilla bean powder, or vanilla extract
optional: 1/2 - 3/4 tsp of turmeric powder for natural yellow food colouring

To Assemble: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees f if baking crust
1. Combine crust ingredients in a food processor, start with dates first, puree them until smooth, then add everything else
2. Press combined crust dough into a 9 by 9 or 12 by 12 inch baking pan lined with parchment paper
optional: Bake for 10-12 minutes only until edges are slightly golden brown, cool completely
(baking the crust adds a nice toasted coconut flavour but is not necessary)

While the crust is baking / cooling, prepare the filling:
4. Puree all filling ingredients in a food processor or blender until very smooth
5. Pour filling evenly over crust, only once it has cooled completely
6. Top with extra lemon zest and shredded coconut, refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or best over night to set (the filling will thicken during this time)
7. Cut into 12 - 16 square slices, share with loved ones and enjoy! 

* Store bars in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to a week.