This is one of the family favourites in the James household and featured in my cookbook The Long Life Plan, out next February. Sometimes I like to make them without poppy seeds and the cashew glaze and just serve with a big blob of coconut yoghurt and berries. I made them for a friend the other day and they loved them so much, I thought I'd share the recipe in advance.
Serves 8
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20-25 minutes
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups almond flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup of lemon juice
Zest of a whole lemon (about a teaspoon)
¼ teaspoon salt
4 eggs whites and yolks separated
1 teaspoon vanilla bean extract
1/4 cup of poppy seeds
Creamy glaze
¼ cup cashew butter
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Method
Preheat the oven to 180°C (355°F).
In a large bowl, combine the maple syrup, zest, egg yolks and vanilla, and fold in almond flour and baking powder and beat until smooth. Stir in the poppy seeds. Whisk the egg whites in a mixer until stiff. Half way through add the salt. Fold egg whites into the batter, then place in square baking pan and bake until lightly golden and cooked inside.
Cool completely before topping lemon juice, then drizzle over the icing.
To prepare the glaze, stir together the cashew butter, honey and lemon juice in a small bowl until smooth, then top your slice. Allow to set before slicing into 8 bars.
I have made these Lemon Poppy Seed Bars a few times now. They are delicious and have become a firm favourite in our house!