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Strawberry Cream Cheese Cookie Bars

This dessert features a crumbly cookie crust layered with a creamy mixture of cream cheese and fresh strawberries. The dish has a soft, chewy texture with a vibrant berry flavor and a glossy, slightly caramelized top surface after baking.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour for the crust and crumble topping
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar for sweetness
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter cold, cut into small pieces
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup fresh strawberries hulled and sliced thin
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar for the cream cheese filling
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg large egg

Equipment

  • 8x8-inch baking pan
  • Mixing bowls
  • Electric mixer or whisk
  • Spatula
  • Knife
  • Cutting board
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Oven

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line the baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of flour, 1/2 cup of sugar, and cold, small pieces of butter. Use a pastry cutter or fingers to mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
    1 cup all-purpose flour
  3. Press two-thirds of the crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust. Bake for 10 minutes until lightly golden.
    1 cup all-purpose flour
  4. In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, vanilla, and egg with an electric mixer or whisk until smooth and creamy.
    1 cup all-purpose flour
  5. Gently fold in sliced strawberries into the cream cheese mixture, ensuring even distribution without breaking the berries.
    1 cup all-purpose flour
  6. Pour the strawberry-cream cheese filling over the baked crust, smoothing the top with a spatula.
    1 cup all-purpose flour
  7. Sprinkle the remaining one-third of crumb mixture evenly over the filling. Bake for an additional 15 minutes until the topping is golden and the filling is set.
    1 cup all-purpose flour

Notes

Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing to ensure clean cuts. Optional: garnish with additional sliced strawberries or a dusting of powdered sugar.