We’re celebrating with our love for brownies with these decadent Cold Brew Brownies made with Lifeway Farmer Cheese and Lifeway Kefir for a boost of protein. Brownies are one of our favorite desserts, but they needed a protein boost in classic Lifeway fashion, if you ask us. Here, our farmer cheese is used in the velvety frosting in combination with cream cheese. Lifeway Kefir is also used in the coffee-infused batter which tenderizes it and keeps the brownies soft, moist, and rich. Spread the delicious frosting on top of the dark chocolate brownies and you’ve got a delicious dessert you can enjoy for days on end—if they last that long!
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 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 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: 15 mins Servings: 8-9Ingredients
Brownies:
- 8 ounces quality bittersweet (70% dark) chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 2 tbsp. cold brew concentrate
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/4 cup Organic Whole Milk Vanilla Kefir
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 tsp. dried espresso powder (instant coffee)
- 3/4 cup gluten-free flour (like oat flour, or you can use regular flour if not gluten-free)
- 2 tbsp. Dutch process cocoa powder (dark cocoa powder)
- 1/4 tsp. salt
Frosting:
- 4oz cream cheese, at room temp
- 4oz, at room temp Farmer Cheese
- 4 tbsp. unsalted butter, cubed, at room temperature
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Directions
- Coarsely chop the chocolate and melt it together with the butter in a saucepan over medium heat while stirring constantly. Remove from the heat, pour in a mixing bowl, and let cool for 8-10 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a 9-inch square pan with parchment paper.
- Add the coconut sugar to the chocolate mixture and whisk until well incorporated. Add the eggs, one at a time. Whisk in the vanilla extract, cold brew concentrate, and Lifeway Kefir.
- Add the flour, cocoa powder, dried espresso powder (or instant coffee) and salt and gently fold them in. Mix only until everything is incorporated and the dry ingredients are wet and no clumps remain.
- Spread the batter into your prepared pan.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached and the brownies pull away from the edges of the pan.
- For the frosting: Beat the cream cheese and farmer cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Gradually beat in the butter until smooth. Add the confectioners' sugar and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
- Let the brownies cool in the pan on a wire rack.
- Once cooled, apply frosting with a spatula, then enjoy!
