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Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars

Blueberry cream cheese bars with a buttery pressed crust and a smooth baked filling, topped with sweet jammy blueberries. Baked until set, then chilled for clean slices and a creamy-meets-fruity texture in every bite.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 42 minutes
chill 2 hours
Total Time 3 hours 2 minutes
Servings: 9 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320

Ingredients
  

Crust
  • 1.5 cup all-purpose flour
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.75 cup unsalted butter, melted
Cream Cheese Layer
  • 16 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
Blueberry Layer
  • 2 cup fresh blueberries
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
Optional Topping
  • 0.5 cup powdered sugar for dusting Optional.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 9x9-inch baking pan

Method
 

Prep
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Set out a 9×9-inch baking pan lined with parchment paper so the bars lift out cleanly.
  2. In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, salt, and melted butter. Stir just until the mixture looks like even, sandy crumbs.
  3. Press the mixture firmly into the prepared pan. Use the back of a measuring cup to compact it into an even layer.
  4. Bake the crust for 12 minutes. Look for lightly golden edges while the center stays set.
Make the cream cheese layer
  1. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Stop and scrape the bowl so there are no lumps.
  2. Add sugar, egg, and vanilla. Mix until creamy and fully combined.
  3. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the warm crust. Smooth the top so it reaches the edges.
Add blueberries and bake
  1. Toss blueberries with sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice. Stir until the berries look glossy and the cornstarch is evenly distributed.
  2. Scatter blueberries evenly over the cream cheese layer. Arrange them so there are berries in every corner.
  3. Bake for 30–35 minutes until the filling is set. The center should look firm with only a slight wobble.
  4. Cool completely. Let the bars reach room temperature before chilling for the best slice.
Chill and serve
  1. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Chill until fully firm to ensure tidy bar slices.
  2. Slice into bars and dust with powdered sugar if desired. Use a sharp knife and wipe it between cuts for clean edges.

Notes

Pro tip: Chill longer if your oven runs hot—firmer bars slice more cleanly. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 4 days; freezing is not recommended due to the texture change in the cream cheese. For a lighter option, use reduced-fat cream cheese (texture will be slightly softer after baking).