These raw sweet lime bars with lavender and bee pollen are cool and serene like a tall glass of iced lemonade on a blistering night in late June, when the lilacs are blooming and the crickets are singing their lullabies all around you.
My notes for these raw sweet lime bars with lavender and bee pollen included the phrase, "I'm winning at life". As conceited and self-congratulatory as it may sound, this statement has basically been the mantra guiding my life in the last month.
It has helped me see all the good things around me, and not feel ashamed to embrace them.
It has helped me take pride in my work and in my appearance.
It has gotten me through bad moods and some difficult times. But beyond all that, it has helped me enjoy life to the fullest.
The last month has been exceptionally busy around these parts. Jaunts to New York City with vegan and gluten-free ice cream sundaes, sunset strolls through Central Park and jalapeno margaritas that are just over the wrong side of dangerous (a full photo post to come - there is so much to share here!).
Tours of Montreal with visitors in tow, showcasing all the beauty of this city in summer and eating our way through the city's neighbourhoods. Summer festivals filled with music - some good, some bad - dancing, some of weirdest yoga I've ever done in my life, and a lot of time spent just looking up at fireflies.
Standing at the border between U.S. and Canada seems to have become a regular thing for this gal. Sitting on the verge between sadness and anticipation, the return home and the end of vacation, I feel each minute ticking by at the pace of a snail, leaving a wet trail behind it.
Memories of the easy key lime pie I just tasted continue to haunt me, and I feel like I must adapt it to my regular life.
All I've got left from weekends of music, great food, friendship and joy is a bunch of blurry photos and memories... And a bottle of moonshine.
Festivals and cold seafood. Music and sunburns. Water and sky.
Summer is the season dreams are made of.
So forgive me if my notes for these raw sweet lime bars with lavender and bee pollen did not include much more than that phrase. Forgive me I have no swoon-worthy stories of love and loss. Forgive me if the photos on my social media look like a big self-congratulating farce.
Forgive me if I find the time to take joy in the little - and big - things.
Forgive me for #winningatlife.
Want to capture the sweet taste of this fleeting, hot season? Make some raw sweet lime bars with lavender and bee pollen. These are cool and serene like a tall glass of iced lemonade on a blistering night in late June, when the lilacs are blooming and the crickets are singing their lullabies all around you. They are creamy and soft, cool to the touch and to taste. Like a little dip into a natural, murky pond behind your best friend's summer cottage. Like a taste of your grandmother's lemon suckers. Like a summer breeze.
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Recipe
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Sweet lime squares with lavender and bee pollen
Ingredients
Base:
- 1 cup almonds
- ½ cup desiccated coconut
- ⅓ cup Medjool dates
- 1 TB coconut oil
- zest of 1 sweet lime or lemon
- ½ teaspoon lavender buds a pinch will do fine
- Pinch of sea salt
Filling:
- 2 cups cashews soaked
- Juice of 3 sweet limes
- Zest of 1 sweet lime
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon lavender buds
- 1 TB honey or maple syrup you may want to use more if using regular lemons
- 1 TB coconut oil
- Pinch of salt
Topping:
- Lavender buds for decorating
- Bee pollen for decorating (optional)
Instructions
- Soak almonds and cashews in separate bowls for at least one hour. Drain thoroughly.
- Cover a bar pan or half baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a food processor, grind almonds and coconut together until a coarse meal forms. Add remaining crust ingredients. Process until mixture holds together well, and you can form it into shapes. Press evenly on your prepared baking sheet.
- Without washing your food processor, add all filling ingredients and process until mixture is smooth, about 2 minutes. If mixture is too runny, add more coconut oil, one tablespoon at a time. If mixture is too hard, add water, one tablespoon at a time. Pour filling on bottom. Chill in fridge for at least 4 hours.
- To serve, sprinkle lavender buds and bee pollen. Serve chilled.
Lisa | Garlic + Zest says
These bars are absolutely beautiful! I would have thought they were full of dairy (cream cheese, whipping cream etc) if i hadn't read through the recipe! Sounds really delicious! Also sounds like you're having a great summer! Enjoy!
kseniaprints says
I know, they look deceivingly decadent! No guilt though 😀
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
Oh, I love the combo of lime and lavender. I would happily eat three of these bars if I had them.
kseniaprints says
Come on over and you can have a whole pan 😉 Or just make 'em yourself - they're about 10 mins of work!
Amanda says
What a tempting bar! They look so creamy. Such wonderful flavors with the nuts, dates, coconut, honey, and fragrant lavender. Beautiful.
kseniaprints says
They're incredible - decadent and creamy and cool without any of the guilt or refined sugar. Our summer fave!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
Ooh I love the sound of the lavender in these. What does bee pollen taste like?
kseniaprints says
It's a bit like bitter honey, actually - floral but with a bite. It's mostly used for texture and its nutritional value though!
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
These look so delicious. I have seen so many recipes with lavender this year. I just planted some, so when they bloom next year I will have to experiment with them for sure.
kseniaprints says
I have also fallen in love with lavender this year, and now I'm dreaming of new recipes to use it in... I think I'm going to make a lemon lavender curd next!
Sarah says
These look beautiful and I will definitely be trying out the recipe over the long weekend. So long lemon squares. Hello sweet lime bars!
kseniaprints says
They kick lemon squares in the butt. Let me know how you liked them!
swayam says
this looks like a winner! I have never tried anything with pollen before.. yum!
kseniaprints says
I love sprinkling pollen on my smoothies and yogurts. It's so nutritious!
April says
Oh how pretty are these and they sound so good! I love how unique it is. I would love to give these a try!
kseniaprints says
You totally should! They're so easy and DELICIOUS!
Renz says
Love the creaminess of these bars. Yes Summer is the perfect time and these bars would be a great treat.
kseniaprints says
They make an amazing season taste even better 😀
Renee says
This recipe sounds so refreshing without being heavy. Lemon bars are my favorite, but I'm sure these would give them a run for their money - pinning this one for later!
kseniaprints says
I like these way more than lemon squares - the sweet limes have such a nice floral taste!
Anne Murphy says
Interesting - I've never seen sweet limes! I'll have to look for them - they sound interesting. And those bars look so creamy and lovely!
kseniaprints says
I came across them in one of the big grocery stores here. They were such a revelation - a bit sweet, a bit sour, and very floral - which meant they paired beautifully with lavender!
Berta says
These bars look fantastic!! I hope the rest of your summer is as packed with memorable moments xx
kseniaprints says
It has been a very memorable summer indeed! How is winter around your parts? 😉