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Home » Bar Cookies

Butter Crunch Lemon Cheese Bars

Last updated on June 3, 2021 By Anna 7 Comments This post may contain affiliate links.

Today's recipe is one you'll really appreciate if you have some cottage cheese you need to use.  Then again, it's also a recipe that might make you want to run out and buy some cottage cheese!  Greg Patent's Butter Crunch Lemon Cheese Bars from Cooking Light are excellent.

Butter Crunch Lemon Cheese Bars

Butter Crunch Lemon Cheese Bars

Here's a link to the Cooking Light recipe collection where you can see the original recipe and read the reviews.

butter crunch lemon cheese bars

The original directions as well as what I've printed below call for the crust to be made in a mixing bowl and the filling in a food processor. However, if you'd rather not mess up a bowl you can do the crust in the food processor as well.

butter crunch lemon bars cut.jpg
An old picture of Butter Nut Lemon Cheese Bars

The bars need some time to chill, and if you have time overnight is best. They also freeze very well.  You can serve them plain or dress them up with a little whipped cream and fruit.

Recipe

Cooking Light's Butter Crunch Lemon Cheese Bars

Cookie Madness
Butter Crunch Lemon Cheese Bars are low fat bar cookies made with cottage cheese and fresh lemon.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 45 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Ingredients
 

Crust:

  • ⅓ cup unsalted butter softened, do not use tub style
  • ¼ cup dark brown sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground mace or nutmeg
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour 4.5 oz/127 gram

Filling:

  • 1 cup low fat cottage cheese I use 2%
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
  • 3 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg white

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°. Line an 8 inch metal pan with foil and spray foil with cooking spray or line it with nonstick foil (or parchment if that's what you prefer).
  • To prepare crust, place first 4 ingredients in a large bowl, and beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Lightly spoon 1 cup flour into a dry measuring cup, and level with a knife. Add the 1 cup flour to the butter mixture, and beat at low speed until well-blended. Press crust into prepared pan and bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Let cool while you make the filling.
  • To prepare filling, place cottage cheese in a food processor; process 2 minutes or until smooth, scraping sides of bowl once. Add 1 cup granulated sugar and remaining ingredients, and process until well-blended. Pour filling over crust. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until set (the edges will get lightly browned), and cool. Cover and chill for 8 hours.

Notes

To make the crust in the food processor. process the softened butter, brown sugar, nutmeg and salt until creamy. Add the flour and pulse until evenly blended -- do not overprocess, just pulse enough so that the butter is evenly dispersed. Dump into the pan and press evenly. Bake for 20 minutes.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    I love hearing from other bakers and appreciate helpful comments. Rude ones will be deleted immediately.

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  1. Anna

    September 13, 2020 at 4:55 pm

    Holly, thanks for commenting and noting the bake time. This is an older recipe which I sometimes forget about. I definitely need to bake these again and update the photo. Glad you like the recipe!

  2. Holly

    September 13, 2020 at 4:08 pm

    These take another 10 min of cooking to set but I’ve made them numerous times and the crust is always crunchy.

  3. Squishy

    July 10, 2007 at 6:11 pm

    Love this recipe. I adore the flavour of lemons. Could I use cream cheese instead?

  4. carole

    July 01, 2007 at 12:08 pm

    Wouldn't these be great with lime rather than lemon. Maybe key lime.

  5. Anna

    June 30, 2007 at 8:53 am

    Debbi, you are right. They're not the least bit crunchy.

    Joe, I think a lot of people who read Cooking Light have made these.

    Cindy, I didn't see that.

    Therese, I'm not sure ricotta would be smooth enough. It would work, but might be a little grainy. If you don't have a food processor, you might want to just try it with light (reduced fat) cream cheese. You'd be giving up the nutritional value, but in the end, it's just dessert.

  6. Joe

    June 29, 2007 at 9:29 pm

    I remember these! Jeff and I both liked them when we tried them out.

  7. Debbi

    June 29, 2007 at 7:31 pm

    Interesting how these are called Butter CRUNCH bars when there doesn't appear to be anything in there for a CRUNCH. Unless you include the egg shells..... 🙂

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