This recipe for keto lemon bars is an absolute low carb dream! With only 4g of net carbs per serving, you'll be happy to indulge in this bright and tangy treat without a shred of guilt!
Are you missing fruity goodness on your keto diet?
I'm not one who subscribes to the belief that keto is a "no fruits" diet, and this is because I think many fruits are still great whole food options, that are nutritious than other artificial foods.
But some fruits are very high in NET carbs (total carbs minus fiber minus sugar alcohols) for someone following keto. This is mostly because of the high amount of natural sugars.
An apple is about 20.6g net carbs, an orange is about 8.3g net carbs, and a banana is about 23.9g net carbs. (source: Google)
Because of this, I would say those aren't great options for Keto, but other fruits, like berries are much better.
One cup of blackberries is about 6 net carbs, one cup of raspberries is about 7 net carbs, and a cup of whole strawberries is about 8.1g net carbs. Those numbers are much better, and when you think about it...one cup of any of these fruits is a pretty significant amount!
I love to put lower carb fruits into my desserts, like in my Keto Yogurt Recipe so I'm super excited to share this recipe with you...it's a real winner!
Thanks so much to Tasteaholics for letting me share this recipe! It comes straight from their Dessert in Five, eCookbook, which features 30 DELICIOUS recipes that all can be made with just 5 ingredients and are only 5g (or less) of net carbs per serving!
The fruit in this recipe is lemons...which are about 3.4g net carbs per fruit. And you're not using very much of it so the carbs stay low!
The other hero of this recipe is what makes it sweet...erythritol. Erythritol is a mild sugar alcohol with a glycemic index of 0. It's my favorite sweetener, and I believe the powdered version is the very best. It tastes and bakes like confectioner's sugar, AND really cuts down on the cooling effect that erythritol typically carries.
You can buy it on Amazon along with their Ketone Test Strips and Hand Held Spiralizer. If you've been following me for any amount of time, you know that I love to support small business, so I'm so happy to promote this quality brand!
Back to the recipe. When I tried the Keto Lemon Bars I was so impressed. It tastes so fresh and natural, unlike the processed junk you might be used to if you're new to Keto. And the nutrition info is great! Here's a breakdown per serving:
Calories: 272 Net Carbs: 4g Fat: 26g Protein: 8g
Here's how you make them!
Yield: 8 servings
You and your guests will be left satisfied after these dense, wonderful lemon dream bars! Finish them off with lemon and a sprinkle of erythritol.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Additional Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour20 minutes
Ingredients
½ cup butter, melted
1 ¾ cups almond flour
1 cup powdered erythritol
3 medium lemons
3 large eggs
Instructions
Mix butter, 1 cup almond flour, ¼ cup erythritol, and a pinch of salt. Press evenly into an 8x8" parchment paper-lined baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F. Then, let cool for 10 minutes.
Into a bowl, zest one of the lemons, then juice all 3 lemons, add the eggs, ¾ cup erythritol, ¾ cup almond flour & pinch of salt. Combine to make filling.
Pour the filling onto the crust & bake for 25 minutes.
Serve with lemon slices and a sprinkle of erythritol.
Notes
If adding vanilla extract to crust is something you're used to, feel free to mix ½ teaspoon into the crust.
I recommend letting the bars cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting.
Cutting the bars with unflavored dental floss is a GREAT way to get a clean cut.
Please note that I am not a certified nutritionist. If nutrition is important to you, I highly encourage you to verify any data you see here with your favorite nutrition calculator.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8 servings
Serving Size:
1 bar Amount Per Serving:Calories: 272Total Fat: 26gCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 8g
Underbaking: This is the most common reason for gooey lemon bars. The filling needs enough time to set, which can be tricky since oven temperatures can vary and the visual cues for doneness are subtle. Solution: Bake the bars until the filling is just set and no longer wobbles when you gently shake the pan.
Lemon filling: Mix lemon zest and sugar in a mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice, flour, baking powder, and eggs. Mix until well combined and the sugar is dissolved. Pour mixture over the baked crust.
You will NEVER know that these easy, 5 ingredient Sugar Free Keto Low Carb Lemon Bars are only 100 calories and gluten free! The perfect healthy treat!
Here's what you can do: Return them to the oven: Preheat your oven to the same temperature as the original baking temperature (usually 350°F). Place the undercooked lemon bars back in the oven and bake them until the custard sets.
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.
If your lemon bars have a strong eggy taste/smell, it's likely due to the lemon curd being overbaked. Be sure to take the lemon bars out of the oven as soon as they're done. Your oven may also be running a little hot.
To Keep Powdered Sugar from Melting, Add Cornstarch
So go slow and be conservative with the amount of cornstarch you add. A good rule of thumb is 1 teaspoon of cornstarch for every 1/4 cup of powdered sugar used.
Seeing a thin whitish foamy layer of air bubbles on top of your baked lemon bars is completely normal. It is the air bubbles created from whisking the eggs rising to the surface during baking. Lemon bars taste the same with or without that layer and a dusting of icing sugar covers it right up!
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.
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).
Cloud bread, or oopsie bread, is very popular with low-carb and keto dieters. Cloud bread is a protein-rich alternative to regular bread and makes an excellent sandwich base or English muffin replacement.
Lemons are a particularly solid choice for the keto diet. Lemon contains 6 grams of carbs and 1.8 grams of fiber per fruit (a total of 65 grams per lemon) or 0.7 grams of carbs per wedge (8 grams per slice). It also provides plenty of flavor and is an excellent source of vitamin C.
The most common reason for gooey lemon bars is they're undercooked. Be sure to bake them until the top is fully set and no longer jiggly in the middle. You'll also notice the edges will start to brown.
A custard with both eggs and starch needs to be thoroughly cooked. The reason is that yolks contain an enzyme which liquidifies starch. It doesn't happen outright, but will happen while your tart is cooling. The only way to prevent it is to heat the mix high enough so the enzyme is deactivated.
If your lemon curd hasn't thickened, it may not have been heated enough. It can take up to 30 minutes of constant stirring to cook lemon curd, especially if it's a large batch. Remember that curd will thicken more once cooled.
If your lemon bars don't hold their shape after they've been refrigerated, it's most likely due to the lemon curd being underbaked. To check if your lemon bar is done baking, shake the pan a little and if the centre doesn't jiggle then it's done.
Hobby: Reading, Ice skating, Foraging, BASE jumping, Hiking, Skateboarding, Kayaking
Introduction: My name is Cheryll Lueilwitz, I am a sparkling, clean, super, lucky, joyous, outstanding, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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