These citrusy treats use cottage cheese to amp up the protein in each delicious bite!
What you’ll need:
For the crust:
1 cup graham cracker or cookie crumbs
3 tablespoons melted butter or coconut oil
For the lemon filling:
½ cup (4 ounces) cream cheese, softened at room temperature
1 cup cottage cheese
4 large eggs, at room temperature
½ cup fresh lemon juice
⅓ cup maple syrup
What to do:
Preheat oven to 325 F and line a 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, then lightly grease the inside.
Make the crust by mixing together the graham cracker or cookie crumbs and melted butter or coconut oil in a bowl, then press the mixture into the bottom of your prepared baking pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes.
While the crust bakes, make the filling by adding all filling ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the filling over the crust, then bake for 25–30 minutes or until the bars are just set in the middle.
Remove the bars from the oven and leave them to cool at room temperature for 1 hour, then transfer them to the fridge to chill for at least 3 hours (or overnight).
Once the bars have chilled, remove them from the pan and cut into squares. Enjoy the lemon bars right away, or store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
About the Recipe
“Healthy lemon bars made with cottage cheese are creamy, tangy, and perfectly sweet! With a buttery graham cracker crust, silky smooth lemon filling, they’re higher in protein, and taste just like the real thing. Perfect for Easter, Mother’s Day, or your next spring party! ” —Sam
Sam is a full-time recipe developer, food photographer, and content creator behind samdoesherbest.com. She creates simple, wholesome recipes that prove healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring — every dish is gluten-free and packed with flavor. Sam’s mission is to show that with the right ingredients and a little creativity, eating good to feel good can be both easy and delicious!
Follow Sam on Instagram @samdoesherbest.
