Lemon Macaroons with Lemon Glaze (Gluten Free, Paleo + Vegan)

These Lemon Macaroons are bright with lemon flavor, with a touch of maple sweetness and a deliciously chewy texture. The tart lemon glaze is made with coconut butter. You’re going to love these irresistibly scrumptious gluten-free, paleo, and vegan macaroons.

I don’t make enough lemon desserts…they’re something my mom has always wanted more of, and I’ve always resisted since historically, I just don’t really like lemon desserts. When I want something lemony, I want it super bright and tart with lemon flavor, and usually, lemon desserts are just too sweet for me.

Lately, I’ve been more interested in lemony things. Experimenting with lemon recipes and seeing what all the lemon dessert fuss is about since I have made a couple drool-worthy lemon desserts in my day (case in point: lemon bars, no bake lemon tarts, and lemon cheesecake.)

I’ve bet you’ve guessed it already, but we’ve got another lemony WINNER on our hands today you guys, and these lemon macaroons just might convert me to full lemon LOVE. This is big. 🍋🍋🍋

As with most of my treats, I kept things relatively simple with these beauties and the result was simply fabulous. You don’t need a whole lot of ingredients to make good treats, guys! Only eight ingredients are needed for both the macaroons AND the glaze.

Lemon Macaroons with Lemon Glaze…yes, please!

Now let’s talk about what’s in there to make these lemon macaroons so chewy, sweet, tart, and wonderful. Of course, you can’t have coconut macaroons without coconut. I use a very finely shredded unsweetened coconut (also sometimes called desiccated coconut) that helps these hold together nicely.

There’s also a bit of almond flour and a pinch of salt. Maple syrup adds sweetness and coconut butter helps bind everything together. A splash of vanilla extract, along with the necessary fresh lemon juice and lemon zest, add a bold brightness when you bite into the macaroons. Heavenly!

Can’t forget about the glaze either – it’s equally simple and lemony, and when paired with the macaroons, we get the perfect level of tart sweetness. In my opinion, the glaze is super necessary to add that tartness that I crave in a lemon dessert. Because it has a coconut butter base, it firms up so nicely and carries the lemon flavor deliciously.

If you’re a lemon lover, then you’ve GOT to try these…and if you’re not, you should still try them, because maybe they’ll be the treat to change your mind 😉 they’ve got that classic coconut macaroon chewiness infused with the brightness of lemons – it’s truly irresistible. Enjoy my friends!

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Lemon Macaroons

These Lemon Macaroons are bright with lemon flavor, with a touch of maple sweetness and a deliciously chewy texture. The tart lemon glaze is made with coconut butter. You're going to love these irresistibly scrumptious gluten-free, paleo, and vegan macaroons.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Servings 15 macaroons

Author Rachel

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup (32g) almond flour
• 1½ cups (120g) unsweetened finely shredded coconut sometimes called desiccated coconut
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ cup (156g) maple syrup
• ¼ cup (60g ) coconut butter melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice + zest of one lemon

For the glaze

• 2 tablespoons (30g) coconut butter melted
• 1 tablespoon (20g) maple syrup if it had been refrigerated, heat it up a bit
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1-3 tablespoon coconut oil melted

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 275°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the almond flour, shredded coconut, salt, maple syrup, melted coconut butter, vanilla extract, lemon juice, and lemon zest until thoroughly combined.
3. With a small cookie scoop, scoop the dough and pack it in so the top is flat and then release onto the baking sheet. Repeat until you’ve used the rest of the dough, spacing the macaroons evenly on the baking sheet. They won’t spread, just puff slightly, so they can all go on one.
4. Bake for 20 minutes, then rotate the pan and bake for 15 to 20 minutes more, until the macaroons are golden around the edges.
5. Let cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. While they’re cooling, prepare the lemon glaze: in a small bowl, whisk together the coconut butter, maple syrup, and lemon juice. Whisk in 1 tablespoon of the melted coconut oil, until smooth. If the glaze seizes up at all, whisk in the remaining coconut oil until smooth (or just to thin it out to your desired consistency).
6. Once the glaze is prepared, dip the top of the macaroons down into the glaze, letting the excess drip off, and then place back on the baking sheet to set. Alternatively, you can put the glaze into a ziplock bag, snip the corner, and drizzle it on. Garnish with lemon zest, if desired.
7. Once the glaze has firmed up, store leftover macaroons in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. You can place them in an airtight container or freezer-safe zip-top bag, and freeze for up to 1 month.