Best of Swanky Recipes/ Cookies/ Desserts

Strawberry & Cream Bars

Strawberry-and-Creams-Bars Recipe

Strawberry & Cream Bars

The perfect summer dessert starts with fresh strawberry and cream dessert bars baked on a sugar cookie crust.  These dessert bars are irresistibly smooth and creamy with a fluffy cookie crust.

If you are looking for a delicious dessert, look no further!  This easy dessert has a soft sugar cookie crust with a creamy white chocolate cheesecake filling and is topping with luscious, fresh strawberries.  I have been seeing all sorts of dessert bars pop up recently so I wanted to add to it with one of my favorite dessert bar recipes!

With all the extra strawberries from the farmer’s market, I’ve been on a strawberry baking spree these past few weeks.  It’s no wonder this is my favorite season.  No matter how many strawberries I have in the fridge, I keep coming home with more.  These strawberry cream bars are perfect for this time of year.  Adding a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream to the top is completely optional.

Easy Alternative

Looking for a fast alternative to making this?   Use a pre-made sugar cookie mix instead of making your own.  Simply use a store bought, pre-made sugar cookie mix, like Betty Crocker.  You will need 1/2 butter softened (1 stick) and 1 egg.  Combine Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie mix, butter and egg.  Hand mix together until a dough forms.  Press down in a greased 9×13 pan and bake at 350 degress F for 15-20 minutes.  Follow directions for the filling and topping to complete the recipe.

Strawberry & Cream Bars

The perfect fluffy and light sugar cookie base with a creamy white chocolate cheesecake creamy center and fresh strawberry topping make this one of my favorite summer desserts.  I cannot think of a better way to use a carton of fresh strawberries from the market.

The Recipe

Strawberry & Cream Bars

A soft sugar cookie crust with a smooth and silky white chocolate and cream cheesecake center. The top is smothered with a fresh strawberry topping.
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Course: Dessert
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 12 -18

Ingredients

  • Cookie Bar
  • Sugar cookie mix ((1 lb, I used Betty Crocker))
  • 1/2 cup butter (, softened)
  • 1 large egg
  • Filling
  • 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips ((1 bag))
  • 12 ounces cream cheese (, softened)
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • Topping
  • 3 cups sliced fresh strawberries
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/3 cup water

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 baking pan; set aside.
  • Sugar Cookie Crust Mix cookie mix in a bowl. Gently press the batter into the greased pan and spread out with hands. Buttering your hands helps to spread this better. Bake 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
  • For the Filling - In a small, microwave safe bowl, microwave chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons heavy cream for 45 to 60 seconds or until chips are melted. Stir until smooth. In a small microwave safe bowl, microwave cream cheese to soften; about 30 seconds. In a medium bowl fitter with a mixer, combine melted chocolate and cream cheese and beat until smooth. Spread mixture evenly over the cooled sugar cookie crust. Refrigerate while making the topping.
  • Strawberry Topping - Wash and slice strawberries. In a small bowl, crush 1 cup sliced strawberries, In a small saucepan on medium heat, add the 1 cup crushed strawberries, sugar, water and cornstarch. Stir mixture constantly until mixture boils and thickens. Remove from heat and let cool 10 minutes then gently fold in remaining strawberries. Spread over chilled filling. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Notes

Looking for a fast alternative to making this? Use a pre-made sugar cookie mix instead of making your own. Simply use a store bought, pre-made sugar cookie mix, like Betty Crocker. You will need 1/2 butter softened (1 stick) and 1 egg. Combine Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie mix, butter and egg. Hand mix together until a dough forms. Press down in a greased 9x13 pan and bake at 350 degress F for 15-20 minutes. Follow directions for the filling and topping to complete the recipe.

 

 

13 Comments

  • Avatar for Swankyrecipes
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    dina
    07/22/2014 at 2:16 pm

    they look delicious! i love the crust!

  • Avatar for Swankyrecipes
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    Sandra
    07/22/2014 at 3:07 pm

    These look absolutely delicious. I plan on trying this soon.

  • Avatar for Swankyrecipes
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    Pieced Pastimes
    08/02/2014 at 7:28 am

    Hi Jessica,
    These and look and sound so delicious! Thanks for sharing at Saturday Sparks. You have been featured today.
    Have a Wonderful Day,
    Suzanne
    Pieced Pastimes

    • Avatar for Swankyrecipes
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      Jessica Knott
      08/02/2014 at 12:12 pm

      I’m honored I was featured. Thank you for hosting Saturday Sparks!

  • Avatar for Swankyrecipes
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    Pam
    08/13/2014 at 4:22 pm

    5 stars
    Hello Jessica,

    Thank you for this recipe, it looks very nice and I will try it soon. However, I have a question: when is the moment to add flour into butter/cream mixture? Maybe I don’t read your instructions well, as English is not my language (I’m Dutch). Thank you for your answer!

    • Avatar for Swankyrecipes
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      Jessica Knott
      08/14/2014 at 6:29 pm

      Hi Pam, sorry for the confusion, I updated the recipe. The flour-dry ingredient mixture will be slowly added after the sugar and butter are mixed. Everything will need to be mixed together then pressed into a pan and baked to form a crust. Hope this helps, thanks again. Have a good weekend.

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    Samantha
    05/28/2015 at 5:17 pm

    Hello! I just love this recipe. I’ve made it a couple times. Would you be willing to give the original crust recipe again? My family prefers that to the cookie dough alternative 😉

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    Patsy Furey
    07/21/2015 at 9:36 pm

    5 stars
    I made this today and it is yummy!! The whole family loves it. So good on a hot summer say and very pretty to boot! I followed the recipe exactly. Will definitely make again.

    • Avatar for Swankyrecipes
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      Jessica Knott
      07/22/2015 at 9:43 am

      Glad you liked it, it’s wonderful in summer!

  • Avatar for Swankyrecipes
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    Kendra
    06/09/2016 at 11:41 am

    Do you have to add the butter and egg to the pre-made cookie dough? What is the benefit of adding these? Just trying to cut back a little on the calories…
    This looks delicious!

    • Avatar for Swankyrecipes
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      Jessica Knott
      06/12/2016 at 3:20 pm

      Hi Kendra, the butter and egg need to be mixed with the cookie dough powder mix found in the flour/baking aisle. This will form the crust. I suppose you could probably use a store bought premade cookie dough maybe 1-2 rolls and then bake it according to package directions. I hope that helps

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    Charlotte Moore
    06/28/2016 at 6:33 am

    5 stars
    All I see is the store bought version. I don’t see anything that calls for flour as someone ask about. Where is the original cookie recipe?

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