Description
Irresistible blueberry cream cheese bars combine tangy cream cheese with sweet summer berries in a perfect dessert. Creamy layers and buttery crust promise a delightful treat you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups fresh blueberries
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the foundation by combining flour, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Incorporate cold butter using a pastry cutter until the mixture transforms into coarse, crumbly texture.
- Press the crumb mixture firmly into a greased 8×8-inch baking pan, creating an even base layer. Bake at 350F for 15 minutes until the crust achieves a delicate golden hue.
- Whip softened cream cheese with sugar until achieving a silky, uniform consistency. Integrate egg and vanilla extract, blending thoroughly until the mixture becomes smooth and integrated.
- Cascade the cream cheese mixture over the pre-baked crust, ensuring an even distribution across the surface.
- Construct the blueberry topping by combining blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and optional lemon zest in a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens and blueberries soften.
- Allow the blueberry compote to cool slightly, then delicately spoon it across the cream cheese layer, creating an appealing marbled effect.
- For the optional crumb topping, merge flour, oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in cold butter until the mixture develops a crumbly consistency.
- Scatter the crumb topping generously over the blueberry layer, ensuring complete coverage.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes at 350F. The bars are ready when the cream cheese layer sets and the crumb topping turns a rich golden brown.
- Remove from oven and allow the bars to cool completely before slicing into precise squares for serving.
Notes
- Ensure butter is cold when making the crust for a flakier, more tender base that crumbles perfectly.
- Let cream cheese soften at room temperature for 30 minutes to achieve a silky, lump-free filling that spreads evenly.
- Blind bake the crust briefly to create a protective barrier against moisture from the cream cheese and blueberry layers.
- Swap fresh blueberries with frozen ones, but don’t thaw them first to prevent excess liquid and maintain the topping’s consistency.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 235 kcal
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 89 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 38 mg