Our Blueberry Cheesecake Bars offer a sweet surprise of goodness since they’re made with Lifeway Farmer Cheese that nourishes your gut with live probiotics and . bioavailable protein for a strong, healthy body. Blueberries are one of nature’s best foods for a healthy heart, gut, and brain, and they make one of the most delicious and versatile ingredients you can use for desserts like this one that you can also feel good about serving!
Blueberries are packed with fiber and polyphenols, an antioxidant that acts as a prebiotic for your gut, and they’re rich in compounds that improve blood flow, mood, and focus. They make terrific fruits to use in quick, easy recipes like our Blueberry Cheesecake Bars since they’re not only delicious, but also add a colorful pop of bright, beautiful berry hues in whatever you use them in.
Meanwhile, Lifeway Farmer Cheese contributes to the main part of the cheesecake base, and it provides your body with an excellent source of protein without any added sugar or salt. Our farmer cheese is carefully cultured and handcrafted, so it’s packed with live probiotics your gut will love, and it’s a natural source of calcium for healthy bones.
Here, blueberries and Lifeway Farmer Cheese come together in a familiar type of cheesecake-style recipe that are served in bars for easy serving and enjoying. These bars are perfect for a crowd and are sure to be a favorite no matter where or when you serve them. Even better, there’s no baking required! The only heat required is a quick process on the stovetop to make the blueberry compote before everything sets up in the fridge.
Whip up this easy, healthy dessert recipe next time you need a crowd-pleasing dish with minimal effort and maximum flavor—you’ll be glad you did!
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with a variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese,a creamy, high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and a healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Ingredients
For the Graham Cracker Crust:
- 1 box organic graham crackers, like Annie's (use gluten-free alternative if needed)
- 3 tbsp. coconut sugar
- 3/4 cup melted butter
For the Cheesecake Filling:
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2 tsp. powdered gelatin
- 2 cups Farmer Cheese
- 2 cups cream cheese
- 1 tbsp. vanilla bean paste
- 1 tsp. sea salt
For the Blueberry Compote:
- 3 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
- 2 tbsp. maple syrup
Directions
- Make the Crust: Add the graham crackers, butter, and coconut sugar to a food processor to create crumbs. Mold into the bottom of a 9x13" glass baking dish to form the crust on the bottom. You can also divide it into two different pie pans to make two pies if desired. Set aside.
- Whip together all the ingredients for the cheesecake filling in a food processor or stand mixer. Pour it over the graham cracker crust and refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours.
- Meanwhile, in a saucepan, add the blueberries and maple syrup, and cook on low heat on the stovetop. Stir gently and mash down the berries as they warm up to create a compote. Once their juices start to release, mash them with a large spoon or a potato masher to quicken the process. Put the lid on the pot for 1-2 minutes after this process so they cook down a little more, then turn off the heat. Remove and let cool for 30 minutes to 45 minutes in the fridge while the cheesecake mixture from step 2 sets up.
- Place the blueberry mixture on top of the cheesecake mixture after the cheesecake has fully set for 2 hours, then let the entire dish sit one more hour to firm up and set in the fridge. Slice into bars and serve. Enjoy!
