Lower Sugar Lemon Bars
"I based this on Cook's Illustrated magazine's Key Lime Bars, but substituted Jell-O Instant Sugar-Free Lemon Pudding to lower the sugar content.
You could substitute any flavor pudding you like, and leave out the lemon zest."
- Ready In:
- 2hrs 40mins
- Ingredients:
- 9
- Yields:
-
16 bars
- Serves:
- 16
ingredients
- 5 ounces animal crackers
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest, minced fine (optional)
- 1 (1 1/2 ounce) box sugar-free instant lemon pudding
- 1 3⁄4 cups skim milk (or 1% milk)
- 2 tablespoons toasted shredded coconut (optional)
directions
- Put the animal crackers in a food processor. Pulse for 10 1-second pulses until coarse crumbs are formed. Run the processor for an additional 10 seconds until the crumbs become very fine. (If you skip the pulsing step, you will wind up with uneven crumbs.).
- Add the brown sugar and salt, and pulse until the sugar is distributed.
- Add the butter and pulse for 10 1-second pulses, until the mixture resembles wet sand.
- Line an 8-inch square baking pan with a single layer of foil, folded over the edges of the pan to make a sling. Spray with non-stick cooking spray. Pour in the crumbs and pack down with the bottom of a measuring cup or glass. Slide into a preheated 325F oven until golden and crispy, 18-20 minutes. Set on a wire rack to cool.
- Stir the cream cheese in a large bowl with a spatula to smooth out any lumps. Add the lemon zest.
- Mix the pudding mix with the milk. When smooth, whisk into the cream cheese.
- When the crust is cool, add the pudding mixture. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
- Run a small paring knife along the sides of the pan not covered with foil. Remove the bars from the pan using the sling and cut into 2" squares. Optionally, top with toasted coconut for an additional crunch.
Questions & Replies
Got a question?
Share it with the community!
Reviews
-
I am so thankful to you for posting this,as I am diabetic,and havent eaten lemon bars in years due to the sugar in them,i love this recipe,i love the sugar free puddings.Thank you so much for posting this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
DrGaellon
New Rochelle, 0
I'm a 48 y/o gay Jewish man in the suburbs immediately north of New York City. I'm a general internist, practicing and teaching at a medical college north of NYC. I also earned a Masters in Public Health degree in 2013.
After a Walt Disney World trip in Dec 2006 where I had to rent an electric scooter because I couldn't manage the walking, I decided to have gastric bypass surgery, which was done Feb 28, 2007. I lost 160 lbs (though I've gained back about 60 of that since). I can't eat as much as I used to, so I want every bite to be extra good!