These tantalizingly tart and tangy Lemon Bars are taken to a new level with rich and creamy Lifeway Kefir Butter. Our probiotic salted kefir butter is the star of the show in these luscious, colorful dessert bars, as its richness is thanks to being made with 82% butterfat for a European-style butter that delivers the ultimate crumbly, irresistible crust. Trust us, one bite won’t be enough!
To make these easy Lemon Bars, you’ll prepare a basic crust made better with our kefir butter, then prepare a quick lemon filling. While they do take a little patience for the assembly, the recipe is straightforward and reliable, so you can come back to them time and time again.
After some time in the oven, these bars need to retreat to a countertop to cool, and then they’ll spend a little time in the fridge to set up before it’s time to slice and enjoy them. They also keep well and store well, so they’re perfect to enjoy throughout the week for a sweet treat, or you can take a batch to loved ones to treat them to something special.
Nothing says love like a homemade baked good, especially when it’s made with Lifeway! Find Lifeway Kefir Butter and our other probiotic products in a store near you here, and check out our other delicious recipes here for more inspiration.
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 better 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, support the digestive system, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1. Lifeway Kefir also contains a variety of nutrients that are vital for healthy bones and overall health including vitamins D3, K, and B 12 along with calcium and potassium. Along with our kefir, we also offer our creamy, cultured Lifeway Farmer Cheese, a high protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support a healthy microbiome that’s easy to spread and contains no added salt or sugar.
Prep Time: 2.5 - 3 hours Servings: 16 slices
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (use gluten-free if needed)
- 1/4 cup granulated cane sugar
- 3/4 cup Salted Kefir Butter
Lemon Filling:
- 1 1/4 cup granulated cane sugar
- 1 tbsp. fresh lemon zest
- 1/4 cup additional all-purpose flour (use gluten-free if needed)
- 4 eggs
- 3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (3-4 lemons)
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar, for dusting
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line the bottom and sides of a 9x9 baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the sides for easy removal later. Set aside.
- Make the crust: In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar, and melted Lifeway Kefir butter until combined. Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned.
- Make the filling (while the crust bakes): In a separate bowl, mix the sugar and lemon zest together. Whisk in the flour, eggs, then add the lemon juice, whisking until fully combined.
- Pour the filling over the warm crust. Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the center is relatively set. Remove from the oven, and let it cool completely at room temperature on a countertop, then refrigerate for 1–2 hours until fully chilled.
- Once chilled, lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment overhang. Dust with powdered sugar and cut into squares, wiping the knife clean between cuts for neat edges. Enjoy!
- *Keep leftovers in the refrigerator and enjoy within a week.
