Makeover Cream Cheese Streusel Bars Recipes

RASPBERRY STREUSEL BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300°F (149°C). Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang on all sides. Set aside.
• Stir the melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt together in a medium bowl. Add the flour and stir until everything is combined. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes.
• Remove the crust from the oven, and turn the oven up to 350°F (177°C).
• Spread preserves over warm crust. Dot the preserves with raspberries on top.
• Whisk the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour together in a medium bowl. Cut in the chilled butter with a pastry blender or two forks (or even with your hands) until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the filling with streusel and bake for 30-35 minutes or until the streusel is golden brown. The raspberry filling should be bubbling on the edges.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 20 minutes at room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (or overnight). Lift the foil or parchment out of the pan using the overhang on the sides and cut into bars. I usually cut them into 16 smaller bars, but you can cut them into 12 larger bars. Drizzle the bars with vanilla icing, if using. These raspberry bars can be enjoyed at room temperature or cold. I personally like them cold.

APPLE STREUSEL BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Mix flour, cracker crumbs, oats, 1/2 cup brown sugar and sugar. Stir in butter. Reserve 1 cup crumb mixture for topping. Press remaining mixture onto bottom of a greased 13x9-in. pan. Bake until set, 8-10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., Mix apples, spices and remaining brown sugar. Spread over crust; sprinkle with reserved topping. Bake until apples are tender, 30-35 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack., Mix confectioners' sugar and milk; drizzle over top. Cut into bars.

STRAWBERRY STREUSEL BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 9-inch square pan with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, place cookie mix. Cut in butter and cream cheese, using pastry blender or fork, until mixture is crumbly (do not overmix). Press 3 cups mixture in bottom of pan. To remaining cookie mixture, stir in oats; set aside. Bake cookie base 20 minutes. Cool 10 minutes.
• In medium bowl, mix Filling ingredients. Spread mixture on partially baked crust. Sprinkle reserved oat mixture over filling.
• Bake 26 to 30 minutes or until light golden brown and bubbling along edges. Cool on cooling rack 30 minutes. Refrigerate 2 hours before cutting. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Cover and refrigerate any remaining bars.

STREUSEL TOPPED APPLE CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Lightly grease 8- or 9-inch square pan with butter or cooking spray.
• In food processor, place graham crackers, granulated sugar and lemon peel. Cover; process until fine crumbs form. Add melted butter. Cover; process until crumbs are evenly moistened. Press mixture in bottom of pan. Bake 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, wipe food processor bowl with paper towels to remove any crumbs. Add cream cheese, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, 1/4 cup lemon juice and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Cover; process until smooth and creamy. Pour filling over partially baked crust.
• In small bowl, toss apples with 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Sprinkle over filling.
• In medium bowl, mix 3/4 cup brown sugar, the flour and cold butter with fork or fingers until crumbly. Stir in granola. Sprinkle over apples and filling.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until topping is lightly browned and center is almost set (center should jiggle only slightly when moved). Cool on cooling rack 1 hour. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until chilled. Cut into 3 rows by 3 rows.