Description
Creamy blueberry cream cheese bars offer a delightful dessert experience combining tangy cream cheese and sweet blueberry layers. Smooth, rich textures and balanced flavors make these bars perfect for summer gatherings or quiet afternoon treats you’ll savor with pure enjoyment.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1 (14 ounces/397 grams) can sweetened condensed milk
Crust Ingredients:
- ¾ cup (170 grams) butter, softened
- 1 ⅓ cups (160 grams) flour
- 1 ⅓ cups quick oats (uncooked)
- ⅔ cup (132 grams) sugar
- ⅔ cup (133 grams) brown sugar
Binding and Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350°F and creating a non-stick surface in a 9×13-inch baking pan using parchment paper or cooking spray.
- Create a crumbly base mixture by thoroughly blending softened butter, sugars, baking soda, salt, flour, and quick oats until they form a cohesive texture.
- Distribute half of the oat mixture evenly across the prepared pan, pressing down to create a uniform foundation layer.
- Bake the initial layer for approximately 13 minutes until it develops a light golden hue.
- While the base cooks, craft the cream cheese filling by whisking cream cheese until silky smooth, then gradually incorporating sweetened condensed milk.
- Introduce vanilla extract and egg yolk into the cream cheese mixture, stirring until completely integrated.
- After removing the golden base from the oven, delicately pour the cream cheese mixture across the surface, ensuring an even distribution.
- Artfully scatter fresh blueberries atop the cream cheese layer, creating a vibrant and colorful landscape.
- Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the blueberries, gently pressing down to create a rustic topping.
- Return the pan to the oven, baking for an additional 20-25 minutes until the edges turn a rich golden brown and the center sets firmly.
- Allow the bars to cool completely within the pan, which helps them maintain structural integrity.
- Refrigerate the bars to enhance their flavor and provide a cool, refreshing dessert experience.
Notes
- Make sure butter is softened at room temperature for smooth mixing and easy spreading in the base layer.
- Gently press the oat mixture to create a compact, even crust without compressing it too firmly.
- Use fresh or frozen blueberries; if using frozen, do not thaw to prevent excess moisture in the bars.
- Check the bars at 20 minutes to avoid over-baking, which can dry out the cream cheese filling.
- Chill the bars for at least 2 hours before serving to allow the filling to set and flavors to meld together.
- Cut into small squares for easy serving at parties or gatherings, storing them in an airtight container.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 352
- Sugar: 29 g
- Sodium: 155 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg