Satisfy your sweet tooth with this healthy no-bake Macadamia Coconut Lemon Protein Slice recipe! These soft, chewy bars are dessert heaven and made with only 9 ingredients. You will never guess these decadent-tasting bars are healthy!

If you are looking to cut back on your sugar, but still want to enjoy something sweet, this is a great recipe to make. It has got plenty of healthy fats but is low in sugar. It tastes great and is a good way of getting extra nutrients into your diet while satisfying your sweet tooth.

These macadamia coconut protein slice bars really are the BEST little pick-me-ups. I can’t get over these! Who needs corn syrup, truckloads of white refined sugar, butter and dairy when you can have much healthier and good for you protein bars. Melt in your mouth deliciousness and these bars are PERFECT for your drive-by fridge perusal. You know what I’m talking about?

When you need a quick boost of energy and you head to the refrigerator for something to pop in your mouth. No time to cook anything, just-need-a-little-something-to-get-you-through type of thing. And need it NOW!  And let’s face it – sometimes I make these easy treats simply because I’m craving them myself!  For the last few years I have been a fan of coconut butter.  I have a fun time experimenting with it as an ingredient in baked goods and no-bake treats.

You won’t believe your taste-buds when you try this healthy macadamia and coconut butter recipe. It tastes just like the real thing (read: candy bar) but made with simple, wholesome ingredients. If you are looking for a quick no bake, better-for-you treat, this protein-rich candy substitute is full of healthy fats and yummy nutrients that make a terrific afternoon pick me up or late night sweet!

They are going to be your newest healthy obsession and they are SO EASY to make! Keep them in the freezer for a sweet treat that’s naturally sweetened and absolutely delicious. What makes this homemade candy recipe special is the coconut butter. You can buy it or make you own (recipe below in notes). I’ve recently started using it in everything, from drizzling over oatmeal to blending into smoothies, and here it creates a delicious creaminess that pairs perfectly with chocolate and nuts for a truly delicious and healthy candy alternative.

If you are new to coconut butter, this recipe is the perfect introduction to this sweet treat! It’s actually really, really good for you. In fact, coconut butter packs a boatload of health benefits. I like to store the leftover bites in the freezer and just pull one (or two) out before I want to enjoy them. They are best chilled + last much longer this way. You can let them lightly thaw OR eat them frozen for a melt-in-your-mouth treat that is buttery and delicious!

I have also been experimenting with a new way of eating that incorporates a ton of healthy fats into my daily diet. While not a strict ketogenic diet, my fat-first approach to eating has made a huge difference in how I look and feel. My energy is improved, my skin is healthier and I’m even seeing positive changes to body composition (fat to muscle ratio); all without restricting calories.

Exercise, business, life: they all require energy, mood balance, and brain function. Which means I’ve been eating A LOT of fat lately and prefer to cut processed sugar. Trust me; high quality fat is a superfood. My energy and focus are better than I can remember in ages. And my hormones feel more in balance than ever.

Healthy fats help you build hormones and they even help your body to better absorb and utilize critical vitamins and nutrients. Healthy fat is wonderfully satiating and balances your blood sugar levels to help reduce unhealthy food cravings. This is a biggie for me as it quells food cravings and that keeps me from overeating.

Studies even show that eating a low carbohydrate diet rich in healthy fats can improve insulin sensitivity (how your body uses insulin) by approximately 75 percent. When it comes to getting enough healthy fats into your diet I recommend eating plenty of omega-3 rich foods. The omega-3 fatty acids found in high-fat health foods are anti-inflammatory and offer tons of health benefits from increased life expectancy to weight-loss. These natural and unprocessed fats are found in seeds, nuts, butter, olives, avocado, salmon, and coconut in all its forms.

I love the new healthy eating trends as its ALL about ‘adding’ to your diet, not reducing or eliminating certain food groups. More protein, more veges, more healthy fats and so on…

This recipe is a great and delicious way to get some extra healthy fats into your diet. Just be warned though, that they are addictive and totally satisfying. And…so easy to make. Just mix the ingredients together. Pour into a pan. Chill. Melt chocolate. Pour over slice. Cut into bars or squares. That’s it. Done! Enjoy!

Many people have very different views on how much fat to eat in a day, but whatever dietary choices you make, all can agree that these treats are high in heart-healthy fat, which helps you to feel full and satisfied with just a small amount! The new way of thinking is – “Eat to lose fat. Fat isn’t the enemy if you are eating the right sources!” Sounds like a win, right?

Decadent little healthy bites of coconut, macadamia nuts, coconut butter and topped with chocolate. TO LIVE FOR. Easy protein-rich coconut butter bites that are sweet, creamy and delicious, yet free of refined sugar.  A super healthy way to enjoy your chocolate candy!

You know I love coming up with new and delicious snacks and dessert creations. Especially one that has people oohing and aahing at the first bite. And this one is definitely Oooh and Aaah material.

With a layer of chewy coconut and macadamia nut shortbread topped with chocolate, these bad boys are destined to become one of your favorite protein bars!

Macadamia Coconut Lemon Protein Slice

Nourishing, insanely delicious, it’s macadamia coconut lemon protein slice for the win. A thick layer of goodness for creamy deliciousness in each and every bite, topped with melted chocolate. Oh my! Me too please!

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Healthy Clean Eating

Keyword clean eating dessert or snack, lemon coconut protein bar slice, macadamia coconut lemon protein slice, macadamia lemon coconut protein bar recipe no bake, no bake lemon coconut bars

Servings 16

Ingredients

Slice Base

• 1 cup almond flour (almonds blended to a flour)
• 1 cup desiccated coconut
• 1/2 cup coconut butter – store bought or homemade recipe below in notes
• 1 cup macadamias, raw, chopped (save a small handful to add to the chocolate topping)
• 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
• 1/4 cup protein or collagen peptides powder
• 2 lemons, zest only
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Topping

• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

Instructions

• Line a 8 x 8-inch loaf pan or dish with parchment paper on the bottom and sides leaving some overhanging to act as a handle to get the slice out easier for cutting.

Slice Base

• In a food processor or chopper, pulse the macadamia nuts a couple of times until roughly chopped with a few larger pieces. (You can also do this on a cutting board with a knife, but it may take more time).

  In a medium sized mixing bowl add the almond flour, desiccated coconut, coconut butter softened (put the jar in some hot water or a couple of 10 second bursts in the microwave), ¾ of the chopped macadamia nuts, honey, protein powder, lemon zest, vanilla extract and mix all together until well combined.

Chocolate Coating

• Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in small dish and microwave with 15 second bursts stirring between each one until melted and smooth.

  Or use double boiler method - (pot of boiling water with a bowl resting on top) melt the chocolate chips and the coconut oil together.

  Once melted, pour over the top of the slice, add the remaining chopped macadamia nuts and place back in the fridge until the chocolate is set around 15 minutes.

  Remove the slice from pan using the paper handles and cut into 16 bars or more smaller squares.

  Store up to 1 week in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer.

Notes

Homemade Coconut Butter

If you are anywhere near the health food or fitness circles, you have no doubt heard of coconut oil by now. But have you ever heard of coconut butter? Oh my gosh is it good. It tastes like the most delicious, decadent, oh-so-bad-for-you treat. Except, it’s not. It’s actually good for you. In fact, coconut butter packs a boatload of benefits:

It’s rich in lauric acid, which boosts immunity and destroys harmful bacteria, viruses, and funguses.

It actually boosts your metabolism, which aids in weight loss and increases energy levels.

Its a superb ingredient for protecting and replenishing the hair and skin

It’s packed with healthy fats, so you feel full longer.

It’s full of essential amino acids, calcium, and magnesium.

Basically, coconut butter is just plain awesome.

It’s so creamy, buttery, naturally sweet and full of nutrients, and it’s hard to believe that this tasty Homemade Coconut Butter from Scratch is made with one ingredient! You may not know this, but a jar of high-quality coconut butter can be expensive.

Yes, that is one of the reasons that you should make you own - it’s unbelievably easy. Besides being incredibly good for you, coconut butter greatly enhances the creamy texture of desserts, smoothies, ice creams, fudge and hot beverages. Even a spoonful out of the jar is not a bad thing.  😊

Once you start using it, you'll find many other ways to sneak it into your diet.

Go here for the recipe:  Homemade Coconut Butter 

Print Recipe

If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, protein-rich, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites