Blueberries, often hailed as a superfood, are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber, making them a nutritious and delicious addition to any dessert. Their natural sweetness and slight tartness pair beautifully with a creamy, tangy cream cheese filling, creating a harmonious blend of flavors in every bite. Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars with Crumble Top are a versatile treat, perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re looking for a satisfying dessert, a quick snack, or a delightful treat to share at get-togethers, these bars are the ideal choice. Their portability and crowd-pleasing taste make them a favorite for picnics, parties, and family gatherings. With a buttery shortcrust base, a luscious cream cheese filling, and a crumbly top, these bars are sure to impress and satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth.
Why is this the best recipe?
Balanced Sweetness and Tartness: The combination of sweet cream cheese and tart blueberries creates a delightful balance of flavors that pleases the palate. Textural Contrast: The shortcrust pastry provides a buttery, crumbly base and topping, while the creamy filling adds a smooth, rich texture, making each bite a satisfying contrast of textures. Versatility: This recipe can easily be adapted with different fruits or flavorings, allowing you to customize the bars to suit your taste or the season. Ease of Preparation: With straightforward steps and common ingredients, this recipe is accessible even for novice bakers, yet impressive enough for special occasions. Visual Appeal: The vibrant blueberries and golden crumble top create a visually appealing dessert that is sure to impress guests and make any table setting more attractive. Make-Ahead Convenience: These bars can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator, making them a convenient dessert option for parties, picnics, or just a quick sweet treat during the week.
Ingredients and substitutes
All-purpose flour: Forms the base structure of the pastry. Whole wheat flour or gluten-free flour blend (for a different texture and flavor). Powdered sugar: Adds sweetness and helps to create a tender crumb. Granulated sugar (use slightly less, about 1/3 cup) or coconut sugar. Cold unsalted butter: Provides richness, flakiness, and flavor to the pastry. Margarine, coconut oil (solid), or shortening. Eggs: Egg yolk adds richness and helps bind the dough but can be omitted. Add a few extra tablespoons of water to bring it all together. The whole egg binds the filling and adds structure. 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce, 1/4 cup yogurt, or a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water). Cold water: Helps bring the dough together. Cold milk, cream, or a dairy-free alternative like almond milk. Cream cheese: Provides a creamy, tangy base for the filling. Mascarpone cheese, ricotta cheese, or dairy-free cream cheese. Granulated sugar: Sweetens the filling. Honey, maple syrup, or a sugar substitute like stevia or erythritol (adjust to taste). Vanilla extract: Adds flavor and enhances the overall taste. Almond extract, lemon extract, or vanilla bean paste. Blueberries: Provides a juicy, fruity component to the filling. Other berries like raspberries, blackberries, or chopped strawberries. Cornstarch: Thickens the filling and helps prevent it from becoming too runny. Arrowroot powder, tapioca starch, or flour. Lemon juice: Enhances the flavor of the blueberries and adds a touch of acidity. Lime juice or a splash of apple cider vinegar.
Step-by-step: Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars
Shortcrust Pastry: Combine the flour, powdered sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add the cubed cold butter and mix with a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the egg yolk and mix until the dough starts to come together. Add cold water, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough forms. Divide: Divide the dough into two bowls. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Cream cheese filling – In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the egg and vanilla extract and continue to beat until well combined. Blueberry mixture – In a separate bowl, toss the blueberries with cornstarch and lemon juice. Oven – Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×9-inch (23×23 cm) baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal. Assemble – Press one portion of the dough evenly into the bottom. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Spread the blueberry cream cheese filling evenly over the pastry base. Sprinkle the prepared blueberries over the cream cheese filling. Crumble the remaining half of the shortcrust pastry over the blueberries. Bake in the oven for another 35-40 minutes or until the top is light brown and the filling is set. Cool – Remove from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Cut – Once cooled, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars from the pan. Cut into squares and serve.
Tips for Success
Use Cold Butter: Ensure your butter is cold when making the shortcrust pastry. Cold butter helps create a flaky and tender crust. Cut it into small cubes and refrigerate it until ready to use. Properly Mix the Dough: Mix the dough just until it comes together. Over-mixing can result in a tough crust. If using a food processor, pulse the ingredients to avoid over-processing. Chill the Dough: Chill it for at least 30 minutes after forming the dough. This helps the dough relax and prevents shrinking during baking. Evenly Press the Base: When pressing the dough into the baking pan, ensure it’s even and reaches all corners. This ensures a consistent base for the filling. Room-Temperature Cream Cheese: Use room-temperature cream cheese for the filling to ensure a smooth and lump-free mixture. Take the cream cheese out of the fridge about an hour before baking. Coat the Blueberries: Toss them with cornstarch and lemon juice before adding them to the filling. This prevents them from sinking and helps thicken the filling as it bakes. Don’t Overbake: Watch the bars while they bake. The top should be golden brown, and the filling should be set but slightly jiggly in the center. Overbaking can dry the bars. Cool Completely: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting. This helps them set properly and makes cutting into neat squares easier. Line the Pan: Line the baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. This makes lifting the bars out of the pan easier and ensures clean edges. Storage: Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They can last up to a week. For longer storage, freeze the bars and thaw them in the fridge before serving.
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Frequently asked questions
Creative variations
Mixed Berry Bars: Replace some or all of the blueberries with a mix of raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries for a medley of berry flavors. Citrus Twist: Add the zest of one lemon or orange to the cream cheese filling for a zesty flavor boost. You can also replace the lemon juice with lime juice for a different citrus note. Nutty Crumble: Mix chopped nuts like almonds, walnuts, or pecans into the crumble topping for added crunch and flavor. Spiced Filling: Add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon or a pinch of nutmeg to the cream cheese filling for a warm, spiced flavor. Tropical Flavor: Replace the blueberries with chopped mango, pineapple, or a mix of tropical fruits. Add a teaspoon of coconut extract to the cream cheese filling for an extra tropical touch. Oatmeal Crust: Replace half of the flour in the shortcrust pastry with rolled oats for a hearty, rustic crust. This adds a bit of texture and a wholesome flavor. Lavender Blueberry: Add a teaspoon of dried culinary lavender to the blueberry mixture for a floral note that pairs beautifully with the berries.
Creative ways to serve these bars
With a Dollop of Whipped Cream: For an elegant touch, serve each bar with a generous dollop of freshly whipped cream or a swirl of whipped cream from a piping bag. Drizzled with Sauce: For added flavor and visual appeal, drizzle berry compote, lemon glaze, or chocolate sauce over the bars. Topped with Fresh Berries: For a fresh and vibrant presentation, garnish each bar with a few fresh blueberries, raspberries, or a mix of berries. Dusting of Powdered Sugar: Lightly dust the top of the bars with powdered sugar just before serving to add a sweetness and a decorative finish. Ice Cream Pairing: Serve the bars alongside a scoop of vanilla or lemon ice cream for a delightful contrast of temperatures and flavors. On a Dessert Platter: Arrange the bars on a dessert platter with a variety of other bite-sized treats like cookies, chocolates, and fruit slices for a party-ready presentation. Paired with Tea or Coffee: Serve the bars with a pot of herbal tea, such as chamomile or lavender, or a rich cup of coffee for a delightful afternoon treat. As Part of a Brunch Spread: Include the bars in a brunch spread alongside other breakfast pastries, fresh fruit, and yogurt for a delicious and varied offering.
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