Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars are a dreamy dessert that combines a buttery shortbread crust, a rich cream cheese filling, and a sweet blueberry topping. Perfect for summer gatherings, picnics, or just a cozy treat at home, these bars are as beautiful as they are delicious.
The creamy texture pairs perfectly with the burst of fresh blueberries, creating a flavor combination that’s irresistible. Easy to make in under an hour, this recipe is beginner-friendly yet impressive enough for guests. Whether served chilled or at room temperature, these Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars will quickly become your new favorite dessert bar recipe.
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What is Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars?
Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars are a delightful layered dessert featuring a buttery shortbread crust, a creamy cheesecake-style filling, and a luscious blueberry topping. Each bite blends the rich tanginess of cream cheese with the sweet burst of blueberries, creating a treat that’s both refreshing and indulgent.
Perfect for summer gatherings, holidays, or a simple homemade dessert, these bars are easy to make yet look and taste impressive. Whether served chilled or at room temperature, they’re guaranteed to satisfy any sweet craving.
Key Ingredients for Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars:
For the Crust:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Cream Cheese Filling:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Blueberry Topping:
- 2 cups fresh blueberries (or frozen, thawed and drained)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 Cup Water
How to Make Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars:
These Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars are surprisingly simple to make, yet deliver a wow factor that will impress! The creamy, tangy filling perfectly complements the sweet burst of blueberries and the buttery shortbread crust creates a satisfying, melt-in-your-mouth texture. The whole recipe comes together in about an hour, including baking time, making it a perfect choice for a quick and impressive dessert.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8×8 inch baking pan, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
Make the Crust: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Press the Crust: Press the crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
Bake the Crust: Bake the crust for 15-18 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling: While the crust is baking, in a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and sugar together until smooth and creamy.
Add the Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Pour the Filling: Pour the cream cheese mixture over the slightly cooled crust, spreading evenly.
Make the Blueberry Topping: In a saucepan, combine the blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, water and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and the blueberries burst down, about 5-7 minutes.
Spoon the Topping: Gently spoon the blueberry mixture over the cream cheese filling. Swirl with a toothpick for a marbled effect.
Bake the Bars: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the filling is set and the edges are lightly golden brown.
Cool Completely: Let the bars cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares. This is important for the filling to set properly. If necessary place in fridge after it cools and before cutting.
Serve and Enjoy! Cut into squares and serve chilled or at room temperature. Best served fresh or 24 hours after baking from storage.
Why You’ll Love This Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars
The real highlight of these Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars, besides their delicious taste, is their simplicity. You don’t need to be a master baker to whip up a batch of these treats. Plus, baking at home is a great way to save money compared to buying pre-made desserts from a bakery. As for the secret ingredient – well, it’s not so secret!
The fresh blueberries provide a burst of juicy sweetness that perfectly complements the tangy cream cheese filling. Try comparing these to lemon cream cheese bars! They’re another delightful option. Ready to try it today? Grab your ingredients and let’s get started! You won’t be disappointed.
What to Serve Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars With:
These Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars are fantastic on their own, but they can also be elevated with a few simple pairings. A scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream adds extra decadence. For a refreshing contrast, serve them with a glass of iced tea or lemonade.
And for a truly special occasion, pair them with a sparkling wine like Prosecco or Rosé. Alternatively, serving them with other breakfast pastries like scones or muffins is an acceptable choice.
Top Tips for Perfecting Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars:
- Use Cold Butter: Cold butter is key to a flaky crust. Make sure your butter is very cold when you cut it into the flour mixture.
- Don’t Overmix the Filling: Overmixing the cream cheese filling can result in a dense texture. Mix until just combined.
- Fresh or Frozen Blueberries: Fresh blueberries are best, but frozen blueberries can be used. If using frozen, thaw them completely and drain any excess liquid to prevent a soggy filling.
- Adjust Sweetness: If you prefer a less sweet dessert, reduce the amount of sugar in the cream cheese filling and blueberry topping.
- Lemon Zest: For an extra burst of citrus flavor, add 1 teaspoon of lemon zest to the cream cheese filling.
- Prevent Over-Browning: If the crust starts to brown too quickly, cover the pan with foil during the last 10-15 minutes of baking.
- Blueberries can be traded for raspberries or blackberries to change up the flavour of the dessert.
- For a more flakey, biscuit-like crust trading a butter for a shortening will yield this texture.
Storing and Reheating Tips:
- Storing: Store leftover Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezing: To freeze, cut the bars into individual squares and wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Place the wrapped bars in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag. They can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
- Reheating: These bars are best served chilled or at room temperature. If you prefer a warm bar, you can reheat individual squares in the microwave for a few seconds. Avoid microwaving if the entire pan of bars is frozen. Thaw prior to reheating.
Final Thoughts:
This Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars Recipe is a winner for its simplicity, deliciousness, and versatility. Whether you bring it to a potluck, serve it as a quick dessert after dinner, or enjoy it as a sweet treat with your morning coffee, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser. The combination of the buttery crust, creamy filling, and juicy blueberries is simply irresistible. So go ahead, give it a try, and experience the magic of homemade baking!
Discover more here : The Ultimate Baking Hub: Classic & Seasonal Recipes for Home Bakers
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FAQs
Can I use a different type of fruit?
Yes, you can! Raspberries, strawberries, or even peaches would work well in place of the blueberries.
Can I make these bars gluten-free?
Yes, you can substitute a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for the regular flour in the crust.
What if I don’t have cream cheese?
While cream cheese is essential for the signature flavour, you can try using mascarpone cheese for a richer taste.
My crust is too crumbly – what did I do wrong?
Make sure your butter is very cold and that you’re not overmixing the dough. If the dough is still too dry, add a tablespoon of ice water at a time until it comes together.
Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 9 bars 1x
Description
Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars are the perfect mix of buttery crust, creamy filling, and a sweet blueberry topping. They’re simple to make, bursting with flavor, and perfect for any occasion!
Ingredients
- For the Crust:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- For the Cream Cheese Filling:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the Blueberry Topping:
- 2 cups fresh blueberries (or frozen, thawed and drained)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8×8 inch baking pan, or line with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, sugar, and salt. Cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Press crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of prepared pan.
- Bake crust 15–18 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove and let cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Beat in egg and vanilla extract until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Pour cream cheese mixture over cooled crust, spreading evenly.
- In a saucepan, combine blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring until thickened and blueberries burst, 5–7 minutes.
- Spoon blueberry topping over cream cheese layer. Swirl with toothpick for marbled effect.
- Bake 25–30 minutes, or until filling is set and edges golden brown.
- Cool completely in pan. Refrigerate if needed before cutting.
- Cut into squares and serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
For best results, allow bars to cool completely before cutting. They are best enjoyed fresh or within 24 hours of baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 50mg