Lemon Coconut No-Bake Bites

These were the best-tasting accident I’ve ever laid mouth on.

When I make a recipe for the blog that uses a lemon, it means I have to buy an entire bag of lemons considering I’ll need about three for the photo shoot alone. Same thing goes for any recipe that uses fruit. It’s all about the colorful peaches and cherries and bloobs in the background striking a pose.

So naturally I had a crisper drawer full of lemons (among a million other fruits) leftover from an upcoming lemonade post that I had absolutely no idea what to do with. Since I like having snackities around that satisfy my sweet tooth without being packed with added sugar, I decided to get my lemon no-bake bite experiment on. Stocking up on this Vega Vanilla Protein + Greens when Whole Foods Upper Arlington had a crazy protein powder sale didn’t hurt the need for no-bake bites, either.

And then came the coconut flour. Ohhhhh the trendy heavenosity that is coconut flour. I grabbed a bag a couple weeks ago at the nation’s capital of food trends, Trader Joe’s. I swear, the second a food goes viral you can count on Trader Joe’s making their own version. Hemp seeds. Kale chips. Chia seeds. Riced cauliflower. Cashew meal. Quinoa pasta. The list goes on and on!

If coconut flour intimidates you, don’t let it. Since it’s literally just super ground up coconut, using it in recipes in place of traditional flour adds boatloads of fiber (and a bit of plant-powered protein, too) without all the carbohydrates of traditional wheat flour. It’s also lower in fat than nut flour like almond meal. Did I mention it costs about three dollars?

Mmmmhmmmm.

Wondering the nutrition stats for these bad boys? Well it depends what protein powder you use (this one and this one are my faves), but each bite has around 80 calories, 1 gram of fat, 4 grams of fiber, and 3 grams of protein. STELLAR, if I do say so myself.

Now that you’re all hot and bothered about coconut flour, you’ll find yourself wanting to use it in muffins and cookies and two-minute raspberry mug-cakes galore. But be weary!! This stuff soaks up liquid like a sponge, so you’ll need to use more eggs and liquid than you’re used to. It’s most definitely not a cup for cup substitute for traditional flour.

These bites actually taste like lemon cake. Like, I swear.

Don’t believe me? My roommate tried one and screamed “HOLY SHINTO” and then said “mmmmm” so many times in a row that I thought something was wrong with her. She then proceeded to tell me that she can’t make them because she’d eat the whole batch in one sitting.

I guess you’ll just have to go make them and get back to me.

clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon print print icon squares squares icon Lemon Coconut Protein No-Bake Bites ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 from 6 reviews Author: Alexis Joseph, MS, RD, LD

Alexis Joseph, MS, RD, LD Prep Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 10 mins

Yield: 12 1 x Print Pin Description These flavorful protein-packed bites are loaded with fiber and protein for a filling and tasty snack. Scale 1x 2x 3x Ingredients 8 Medjool dates, pitted (I love Natural Delights)

Medjool dates, pitted (I love Natural Delights) 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

unsweetened applesauce Zest and juice of 1 large lemon

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

vanilla extract 1/2 cup coconut flour

coconut flour 1 scoop (30g) vanilla protein powder (I used Vega Vanilla Protein + Greens, see Shop page)

scoop (30g) vanilla protein powder (I used Vega Vanilla Protein + Greens, see Shop page) Pinch of salt

1/4 cup almond milk (plus more, if needed)

almond milk (plus more, if needed) Unsweetened shredded coconut, for rolling Instructions Place dates, applesauce, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla in a large food processor. Process until dates look nearly pureed and mixture is very-well combined. Add coconut flour, protein powder, and salt. Process until mixture forms a smooth ball of “dough.” (If mixture looks too dry, add almond milk. If it looks too wet, add coconut flour). Roll into 12 balls. Place about 1/2 cup coconut in a small bowl and roll balls in coconut, if desired. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

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