Lemon Coconut Bars NO Bake

Recipe: About Lemon Coconut Slice Recipe »

This classic Australian lemon coconut slice is the ultimate no bake treat! With a buttery base, tangy lemon icing and made with pantry staples it is an easy guaranteed crowd pleaser!

About Lemon Coconut Slice

This Lemon Coconut Slice is a classic Australian slice and is so popular as the lemon balances the coconut in the slice well. It's also made with easy to find pantry ingredients and is made with two layers.

The base layer is made up of a biscuit/cookie base made with coconut, condensed milk and butter while the frosting layer is made of icing sugar, butter and lemon juice. This slice recipe is from my friend Nic whose mum made the absolute best slices. I've never had one single slice recipe of hers fail.

Slices are wonderful in lunchboxes or to bring a plate events as they travel well. This lemon coconut slice can survive being outside of the fridge for transportation although I do keep it in the fridge especially when the weather is very hot.

Tips For Making Lemon Coconut Slice

1 - I used some lemonade fruit in this that were given to me by a friend Valentina but you could also use lemons. Lemonade fruit is like a sweeter version of a lemon. If you have access to Meyer lemons you could use them too. This slice has a lovely balance of lemon tartness, sweetness and biscuit.

2 - Make sure to process the cookies finely so that they form a cohesive base. If there are lumps then they won't stick together that well.

3 - I make the icing using pure icing sugar rather than icing sugar mixture (where cornflour is added so that it doesn't harden). I find that icing sugar mixture never sets quite as firm and for a slice like this, you do want it set firm.

4 - Sifting icing sugar is my least favourite kitchen task so I always just put it in the food processor or Thermomix (8 seconds, speed #9) and this pulverises any lumps quickly and easily!

5 - This will work with other citrus fruit like orange, mandarin or grapefruit but you may need to reduce the amount of sugar for oranges and mandarins.

Other fruit slices like this orange creamsicle slice or lemon meringue slice are also delicious!

No Bake Lemonade Coconut Bars

An Original Recipe by Lorraine Elliott

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 5 minutes

• 225g/8ozs. sweetened condensed milk
• 125g/4ozs. butter
• 250g/8.8ozs. plain biscuits/cookies (shortbread, digestive or milk arrowroot)
• 1 cup desiccated coconut
• Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
• 4 tablespoons lemonade or lemon juice

For frosting

• 350g/12.4ozs. pure icing sugar (not icing sugar mixture)
• 100g/3.5ozs. butter, very soft (not melted)
• 100ml/3.5flozs lemon juice
• Finely grated zest of 1/2 lemon
• Pinch of citric acid (optional, gives it a sherbetty flavour)
• 4 tablespoons desiccated coconut

Step 1 - Line a 25x16cm (10x6.4inch) lamington or slice tray on the base and sides. Heat the condensed milk with the butter until melted and stir to combine. Process the cookies finely and place in a bowl. Add the milk and butter mixture along with the coconut, lemon zest and lemon juice and mix to combine. Press into prepared tray and place in freezer for 15-20 minutes until set.

Step 2 - Make the frosting. Sift the icing sugar until very fine (I put it in the food processor) and mix with the butter, lemon juice, lemon zest and citric acid until it makes a smooth icing. Spread on top of the base and sprinkle the coconut on top and place in freezer for 10 minutes or so to set (or you can place it in the fridge to set). This slice will keep in the fridge for 6-7 days or slice and portion up to freeze.

Personal Note

We were in a cafe the other day. We had ordered drinks and food and actually it was a great cafe. But there was one staff member who didn't quite measure up to the rest of the staff. When our drinks were ready he brought them over. Mr NQN had a juice and he put the juice down on the table spilling some of it.

We looked at him, he looked at the spill and trail of dribble, looked at us and then slightly shrugged and walked away. It was like he thought, "Nah, it's fine...". We looked at each other perplexed and then laughed. He never returned to wipe it up nor did he acknowledge it. There really is a difference between getting away with being careless and taking a shortcut!

So tell me Dear Reader, do you want more no bake recipes? Have you ever had service like that?