Description
Strawberry Crunch Bars are a chilled dessert with a buttery cookie crust, a smooth strawberry cream filling, and a crisp topping made with golden cookies and freeze-dried strawberries. They are sweet, creamy, and crunchy all at once, making them a fun make-ahead treat for parties, holidays, or any day you want an easy dessert that looks bakery-worthy.
Ingredients
2 cups golden sandwich cookie crumbs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream
1/3 cup strawberry preserves
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries
18 golden sandwich cookies
1/2 cup freeze-dried strawberries
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 325°F and line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper.
2. Mix 2 cups golden sandwich cookie crumbs with 6 tablespoons melted butter, then press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the pan.
3. Beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla and sour cream.
5. Fold in the strawberry preserves and chopped fresh strawberries.
6. Spread the filling over the crust and smooth the top.
7. Bake for 32 to 38 minutes, until the edges are set and the center is slightly jiggly.
8. Cool completely, then refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
9. Crush the 18 golden sandwich cookies with the freeze-dried strawberries and mix with 3 tablespoons melted butter.
10. Sprinkle the crunch topping over the chilled bars before slicing and serving.
Notes
For the cleanest slices, chill the bars fully before cutting and wipe the knife between each slice.
If your fresh strawberries are very juicy, pat them dry after chopping so the filling stays thick and creamy.
For the crispiest topping, add the crunch layer shortly before serving instead of during storage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 348
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 86mg
Keywords: strawberry crunch bars, strawberry dessert bars, cream cheese bars, chilled dessert, cookie crust bars