Keto LEMON ORANGE Almond Flour Bars offer a healthy, sugar free twist on the classic lemon bar recipe. A delicious lemon-orange filling fuses with an almond-flour crust, creating a true burst of sunshine with only 2.7 grams carbs per bar. So, impress your friends and family with delicious keto lemon orange bars.
Why Make Lemon Orange Almond Flour Bars?
Initially, I wanted to create lemon bars with an almond shortbread crust. After all, it was a good day for another citrus dessert, since the tree in my garden was raining lemons.
But a friend stopped by with a bagful of oranges and everything changed.
I had a new idea: I would pair the almond-flour crust with a refreshing lemon-orange filling, so these vibrant keto lemon orange bars were born.
Lemon Bars vs. Lemon Orange Bars: The Ultimate Taste Test
Choosing between lemon bars and lemon-orange bars is a delightful dilemma since they’re both HEAVENLY.
Recently, I brought these keto lemon-orange bars to a dinner party, and they stole the show. In fact, guests couldn’t stop raving about their flavor and were amazed that this almond flour dessert was sugar free.
Whether you’re feeling adventurous or simply craving a twist on traditional lemon bars, this almond flour bars recipe is a must-try.
Ingredients in Keto Lemon Orange Bars
- Almond Flour: Fine, blanched almond flour
- 4 oz Unsalted Butter: Unsalted butter or use salted butter and omit the salt in the recipe.
- 4 oz Avocado Oil: Reduces the butter content and thereby the saturated fat without sacrificing flavor.
- Powdered Sweetener of Choice:
– To make this almond flour bars recipe keto, opt for a natural sugar substitute such as powdered monk fruit which has 0 calories, 0 carbs, 0 glycemic index.
– No powdered sweetener? No problem! Simply blitz granulated sweetener in a food processor for a few seconds to create your own. - Granulated Sweetener of Choice: For zero calories, try monk fruit sweetener.
- Eggs
- Orange Juice: Always make lemon-orange almond flour bars with fresh-squeezed orange juice.
- Orange Zest: Augments the orange flavor.
- Orange Extract (Optional): Also enhances the flavor.
- Lemon Juice: Fresh squeezed lemon juice.
- Lemon Zest: Boosts the flavor.
- Lemon Extract (Optional): Enhances the flavor too.
- Salt: Just a pinch brings out the flavor of the other ingredients.
- Xanthan Gum: Adds plumpness to the gluten free filling.
How to Make Keto Lemon Orange Almond Flour Bars
This is an overview, so for detailed instructions with exact quantities, please see the Recipe Card below.
- Combine almond flour, unsalted butter, avocado oil and powdered sweetener to make the crust. Line an 8 x 8 pan with parchment paper. Transfer dough to pan and form an even crust with your hands. Then bake at 350 F for 10-15 minutes.
- While the crust bakes, prepare the filling. Combine granulated sweetener, eggs, almond flour, orange juice, orange extract, orange zest, lemon juice, lemon extract, lemon zest and salt. Mix well.
- Then whisk in 1/4 tsp xanthan gum. This will make the filling a bit more plump and help it set.
- Pour onto baked crust and bake at 350 F for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick or knife comes out clean. Don’t overbake your almond flour bars, since it will continue baking as it cools.
- Allow to cool in pan for 1 hour.
- Then transfer to refrigerator and allow to cool for 2 hours.
- Now remove parchment paper which, at this point, will come off easily, and cut.
Frequently Asked Questions
Parchment paper can be a bit pesky. If you’re having trouble getting the parchment paper to stay put in the pan, simply crumble it up. Then put it back in the pan. You’ll find that after crumbling it, it’s easy to put it in the pan.
Use a sharp damp knife to cut the bars. Clean and re-dampen between each cut.
Fresh citrus juice, citrus extract, citrus zest, almond flour or gluten free flour or all-purpose flour, butter, avocado oil (can replace half of the butter thereby reducing the saturated fat), eggs, salt and sugar free sweetener such as monk fruit.
It’s easy. Just put granulated sugar in a food processor for a few seconds and you’ll have powdered sugar. This works for regular refined sugar as well as sugar replacements such as monk fruit.
Yes, monk fruit is a natural sugar substitute with ZERO carbs, ZERO calories and a glycemic index of ZERO, so it’s a lot better than consuming refined sugar.
Xanthan gum tends to clump, so for best results use a whisk or immersion blender so it disperses properly.
Oranges are generally not considered keto-friendly because they contain a relatively high amount of natural sugars and carbs. This lemon orange bar recipe, however, only contains 2-3 tablespoons of orange juice.
Are Oranges Keto?
Oranges generally aren’t suitable for a keto diet. Although they are high in vitamin C, they are also high in carbs.
This keto lemon-orange almond flour bars recipe is, however, low carb (2.7 grams carbs per bar) since it only contains a few tablespoons of orange juice.
Kitchen Equipment to Make Keto Lemon Orange Bars
- 8 x 8 nonstick pan
- Parchment paper
Crust Variations
Make Lemon Orange Bars with Gluten Free Flour or All-Purpose Flour
If you have a nut allergy or simply want to make this recipe with gluten free flour or all-purpose flour, just use the crust in my Gluten Free Lemon Bars Recipe.
How to Store Lemon Orange Almond Flour Bars
To Store Almond Flour Bars
It’s best to store lemon orange bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Eat within a week.
TIP: If you layer them in a container, insert a sheet of parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
To Freeze Keto Lemon Orange Almond Flour Bars
Place in a sealed container and freeze for up to 4 months.
If you make them with the intention of freezing them, don’t sprinkle powdered sweetener on top. Instead, powder them once they reach room temperature.
Looking for More Healthy Desserts?
You might also like these healthy cakes and desserts – or peruse our collection of almond flour desserts.
- Keto Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
- Orange Angel Food Cake
- Gluten Free Lemon Bars
- Mexican Milk Jello
- Keto Lemon Curd
- Chocolate Keto Bundt Cake
- Strawberry Jello Cake
Scroll Down for the Recipe
Keto Lemon-Orange Almond Flour Bars Recipe
Equipment
- 1 pan that measures 8 x 8
- Parchment Paper
Ingredients
The Crust
- 1¼ cup almond flour
- 4 ounces butter
- 4 ounces avocado oil
- ¼ cup powdered sweetener of choice
The Filling
- 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon lemon extract optional
- 2-3 tablespoons orange juice
- 2 teaspoon orange zest
- ½ teaspoon orange extract optional
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons almond flour
- ¾ cup granulated sweetener of choice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Sift together 1¼ cup almond flour with powdered sweetener.
- Add 4 oz melted butter and 3 oz avocado oil.
- Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper.
- Put dough on parchment paper and press dough into an even layer that fully covers the bottom. Bake at 350 F for 10-15 minutes.
The Filling
- In a bowl, mix the granulated sweetener, eggs, orange juice, orange zest, orange extract (optional), lemon juice, lemon zest, lemon extract (optional) and salt.
- Whisk in ¼ tsp xanthan gum (you can also use an immersion blender). This gives the filling a slightly thicker consistency and helps it set.
- Pour onto baked crust and bake at 350 F for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick or knife comes out clean. Don't overbake, since it will continue baking as it cools.
Cool and Decorate
- Let the the keto lemon-orange bars cool for 1 hour.
- Then put them in the refrigerator to cool another 2 hours.
- Next, lift out of pan. Remove parchment paper which, at this point, will come off easily. Cut the bars. For clean cuts, use a damp chef's knife. Clean and re-dampen between cuts.
- Sprinkle with sugar-free powdered sweetener, if desired.
Notes
141 kcal
2.7 carbs
2.6 protein Did you try this recipe? Let me know @cathyscakesalon or tag #cathyscakesalon.
Yum! These are so delicious. Thanks so much for the recipe.