Start by gathering all your ingredients in one place. Measuring out 1 ½ cups of rolled oats, 1/2 cup of natural peanut butter or almond butter, and the rest will make the process smoother. Zest your lemon and squeeze out the juice so everything is ready to go.

In a large mixing bowl, add your rolled oats along with a pinch of salt. Make sure to mix them well so that they are evenly distributed before adding in the wet ingredients.

In the same bowl, add in your peanut butter (or almond butter), maple syrup or honey, melted coconut oil, lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Stir everything together until well combined.

Using a spatula or spoon, stir everything together until well combined. If it feels too dry, you can add a tiny splash more of lemon juice or coconut oil to reach that ideal consistency.

With clean hands or using a spoon, scoop out small portions of this mixture. You can either roll them into bite-sized balls or flatten them into cookie shapes.

Place your formed cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet or plate. Pop them into the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to help them set properly.

Once they’re firmed up, take them out of the fridge and enjoy these zesty gems!