The luscious lemon bars made with this mix are not only delightfully delicious, they are also deliciously light! At Marion's Smart Delights, we use less sugar and salt so you can enjoy this healthy treat while experiencing the mouthwatering contrast of the tangy lemon with the sweetness of the sugar.
Marion’s Lemon Bar Mix is allergen-free and easy to prepare. You can make a heart healthy version by using olive oil instead of butter. They can even be prepared vegan. Plus, with 5 grams of whole grains per serving, you can satisfy your sweet tooth while working towards your recommended daily amount. It’s hard to imagine a more delightfully delicious way to consume 5 grams of whole grains than luscious lemon bars!
Traditional Preparation Method
Note: Marion’s Lemon Bar crust mix is the slightly larger pouch with the words “mix” imprinted. Marion’s Lemon Bar filling is the lighter pouch with the words “filling” imprinted in small letters. Follow the recipe on the box, paying special attention to these tips.
Mixing and Baking the Crust
If you use a flat beater you will arrive at the firm dough consistency. As per recipe on your box, you will need to flatten the dough and prick multiple times to avoid the gentle crust from slightly lifting from the pan during baking.
Alternative Way to Prepare the Crust
Use a wire whip attachment on your mixer. When mixing all crust ingredients, blend until dough is a loose, crumbly texture. Drop crumbles into pan and use finger tips to loosely spread mixture towards edges. Do not press firmly. No need to prick with fork. Simply bake for 10 minutes.
A crust mixed in this second fashion will turn out a little thicker and perhaps a little bit more crumbly, which is likely preferable to many people. So it is all up to your preferred choices.
Fold in Lemon Juice
Be careful when mixing the lemon juice with the filling. Your lemon bar mix includes the most innovated salt-free baking powder on the market. Making the best of this wonderful ingredient requires you to GENTLY mix for a few seconds or fold in the lemon juice with the lemon filling. If it is mixed longer, the result will be a more mousse like structure than some of you may be used to. Use care in folding the lemon juice in instead of mixing it longer. The benefits are certainly worth it: a truly low sodium delight and delicious baked good.
Heart Healthy Margarine Alternatives
As suggested with the above traditional recipe you may of course substitute butter with dairy-free and/or a vegan – 0 cholesterol 0 trans fat margarine. Our suggestions will include choosing a low fat margarine or margarine with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats as well as 0 trans fats.
Heart Healthy Vegetable/Olive Oil Alternative
For those of you who want to take the heart healthy approach a step further we suggest substituting heart healthy olive oil in place of butter. Our website will have recipes which will offer the additional benefit of further reducing even these heart healthy fats.
Vegan Alternative (Extra Low Fat and Lower Calories)
We are working hard in our kitchens to give you vegan options. In fact, we are working on not one but two versions for substituting eggs so you get to choose! In the first version, we propose a delightful tofu and lemon soy yogurt combination as substitution for eggs. The alternative proposes using starch based egg replacer and unsweetened applesauce. When it comes to the crust you can opt for either a vegan margarine or the olive oil.
As always we have your special health needs in mind! Yes, this is not your regular lemon bar, but it tastes like one. You are enjoying a gluten-free, low sodium reduced sugar delight!
We think of you as our extended family. We know some of you are on reduced cholesterol, reduced fat or reduced calorie food plans. You will be able to compare and select the best recipe for your needs from our website in the near future. For those of you that need treat options that are approximately 100 calories, we did not forget about you. In the near future you will see these options too!
Our website is "still in the kitchen cooking," and soon you will be able to buy Marion's Cookie and Muffin Baking Mix and Marion's Delightfully Delicious Lemon Bar Mix online. Our products can be purchased at some markets in Northern Virginia, with more stores coming soon. They are sold at the Lebanese Taverna Market in Arlington and Nourish Market, also known as Kennedy's Natural Foods, in Falls Church and McLean. For additional information, email Marion’s Smart Delights.
