These healthier no bake lemon cookies are full of zesty lemon flavor. They are just 4 ingredients and don’t contain any flour, eggs, refined sugar, dairy or butter. The cookies store well for an easy snack or dessert.
A stack of six lemon cookies

These no bake lemon cookies are great for summer. I love that they are easy to make and don’t require turning on the oven. I wanted to create a healthier version of my popular no bake lemon cookies. These cookies taste similar to the original but are made with healthier ingredients.

Ingredients

  • Lemons
  • Coconut oil
  • Maple syrup
  • Shredded coconut

Lemons: This recipe uses a little bit of lemon juice and fresh lemon zest to give the cookies their bright lemon flavor. Most of the lemon flavor comes from the lemon zest so make sure to add the full amount.

Coconut oil: Coconut oil is the key to the cookies setting up. When the cookies are placed in the fridge, the coconut oil will solidify and help the cookies set.

Maple syrup: A little maple syrup is used to bind the cookies and to sweeten them.

Shredded coconut: Unsweetened shredded coconut is used instead of flour for the base of these cookies. The shredded coconut also adds some texture to the cookies. Make sure to use finely shredded coconut. The finer shreds bind and stick together better.

How to Make No Bake Lemon Cookies

  • Add shredded coconut, maple syrup, coconut oil, lemon juice and zest to a food processor and blend until evenly mixed and the mixture becomes sticky.
  • Use a 1.5 tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop the mixture and release onto your prepared baking sheet.
  • Flatten each cookie into a round disk, about 1/2 inch thick. If desired, add a little more lemon zest on top for garnish.
  • Place the cookies into the fridge until set.

Lemon cookies with lemon slices around them

Expert Tips

  • The cookies are only lightly sweetened. You can customize with more sweetener.
  • You can add a little more lemon juice to add even more lemon flavor to the cookies, but if you add too much the cookies will be too soft at room temperature.
  • I also have a more indulgent no bake lemon cookie recipe.

A bite taken from a lemon cookie

More No Bake Cookie Recipes

4 from 1 vote

4 Ingredient Healthier No Bake Lemon Cookies

These healthier no bake lemon cookies are sweet and full of lemon flavor. No baking required. They only need 4 ingredients and don't require any flour, eggs, refined sugar, dairy or butter.
Servings: 13 cookies
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 2 cups (144g) finely shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 1 tsp (5ml) lemon juice + 1 tbsp lemon zest
  • 3.5 tbsp (52ml) melted coconut oil
  • 3.5 tbsp (52ml) maple syrup

Instructions
 

  • Line a large baking pan with parchment paper.
  • Add shredded coconut, lemon juice, lemon zest, coconut oil and maple syrup to a food processor. Blend on high speed until everything is evenly mixed and the mixture sticks together, about 15 seconds. You can taste the mixture at this point and adjust sweetness or lemon flavor as needed.
  • Use a 1.5 tbsp cookie scoop to scoop the mixture and release onto the prepared baking pan, spacing the cookie balls about 1 inches apart.
  • Using the back of a metal spoon, press down on each cookie ball so that it forms a thick round disk, about 1/2 inch thick. Smooth edges as needed so that the cookies are thick round disks and look like cookies. If desired, you can sprinkle some additional lemon zest as garnish.
  • Place cookies into the fridge to chill until cookies are set and feel firm. This can take about 1-2 hours. Cookies are ready to eat once they are solid. Store uneaten cookies in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer. The cookies will maintain their form for a little bit at room temperature but will eventually turn too soft so it is best to keep them chilled.

Notes

  • This recipe works best with finely shredded unsweetened coconut. It will not work with larger shreds or flakes. I used Whole Foods 365 Shredded Coconut*.
  • I used Nutiva Coconut Oil* You can also use a refined coconut oil if you want less coconut flavor. The coconut oil is key to helping the cookies set up. When the cookies are placed into the fridge, the coconut oil solidifies, which allows the cookies to firm up.
  • *These product links are affiliate links. This means I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
  • Lemon note: The cookies get most of their lemon flavor from the lemon zest because adding too much lemon juice makes the cookies too soft. Make sure you don't omit or reduce the lemon zest.
  • Sweetener note: The cookies are meant to be lightly sweet. You can add a little more maple syrup, but adding more will also make the cookies softer and they will not hold their form very long once out of the fridge. If you prefer sweeter cookies, you can try using a little granular sweetener.
Serving: 1cookie, Calories: 140kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Sodium: 4mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g, NET CARBS: 5
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. This is not a comprehensive list of all the nutrients in the recipe (i.e., does not include vitamins, cholesterol, etc). I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
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