Summer = cobbler season. Whether it’s blueberry, peach, apple, mixed berry, or another fruit you love, cobbler is a must-make dessert that’s easy to assemble and always a pleasure to bite into on a warm, sunny day. That’s why we couldn’t help but whip up a batch of these Blueberry Cobbler Kefir Bars to share with you. They’re inspired by classic cobbler recipes, but packed with extra goodness from our protein-packed Lifeway Kefir.
You can use any of our kefir flavors you love most for these cobbler bars, as they all boost the recipe with protein, and they help keep baked goods extra tender and moist thanks to our kefir’s live and active cultures. For this recipe, we chose our plain kefir for a classic taste and to let the blueberries really shine to their fullest potential. Our Lifeway Kefir Butter also stars in this dessert recipe, helping to make the crumble base and topping of the bars extra rich and decadent.
As the cobbler bakes up nice and golden brown, with the fruit bubbling up and escaping the top of the bars, our kefir and kefir butter work from the inside out to provide a delicious texture and crumb to the batter. Bite by bite, these bars are pure bliss.
These Blueberry Cobbler Kefir Bars are also made with gluten-free whole grain oats and coconut sugar instead of refined sugar, making this summertime treat easier for everyone to enjoy and a little healthier, all while still tasting like a slightly indulgent dessert. After baking, we suggest serving these bars with a scoop of homemade frozen kefir — it’s like ice cream, but better!
Find Lifeway Kefir and our other products in a store near you here or shop online. See you in the kitchen!
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.
Prep Time: 45 mins Servings: 10-12 barsIngredients
For the Base + Crumble Topping:
- 1 1/4 cup gluten-free old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 1/4 cup gluten-free oat flour
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar (or date sugar)
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 6 tbsp. slightly melted Unsalted Kefir Butter
- 1 cup Lowfat Plain Kefir
- *or you can use our whole milk plain kefir for a richer flavor and thicker texture
Blueberry Filling:
- 2 cups slightly thawed frozen wild blueberries (or regular blueberries)
- 2-3 tbsp. pure maple syrup or raw honey
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp. cornstarch or arrowroot starch
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F and coat an 8x8 inch glass baking pan lightly with cooking spray, Lifeway Kefir Butter, or coconut oil. Set pan aside.
- In a large bowl, add the gluten-free whole grain oats, the oat flour, coconut or date sugar, baking powder, and salt; stir to combine well. Mix in the slightly melted Lifeway Kefir Butter, the Lowfat Plain Lifeway Kefir, and the vanilla until you have coarse crumbs. This works best with a fork, but you can use a mixer if desired.
- Press 2/3 of the mixture from step 2 into the inside of the coated pan, and press firmly to form a strong base. Set the other 1/3 of the mixture aside for the crumb topping.
- Make the blueberry filling next by adding the blueberries, honey or maple syrup, vanilla, lemon juice, and cornstarch or arrowroot starch to a bowl. Stir well with a spatula or large spoon, and slightly mash to meld everything together. Spread the mixture on top of the base in the pan.
- Top with the remaining 1/3 crumb mixture, and bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown and the fruit is slightly bubbling out of the top.
- Let cool for 5 minutes, then cut into 8-10 bars and enjoy!*
- Bonus Tip: Try serving these bars with some homemade frozen kefir!
- *Refrigerate any leftovers you have and enjoy within one week for best taste and texture.
