Description
It was a sunny afternoon when I stumbled upon a box of rhubarb tucked away in my grandmother’s garden. The vibrant pink stalks reminded me of the delightful rhubarb cream cheese bars she used to whip up for family gatherings. As I picked a few, I could almost taste the sweet-tart filling resting on that buttery oat crust, the way it would melt in my mouth, with a hint of cinnamon lingering deliciously. Today, I’m excited to share my take on those nostalgic treats—Tart & Creamy Rhubarb Cream Cheese Bars that are not only simple to make but also perfect for those warm spring and summer days or any holiday gathering.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp Morton kosher salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 2 cups chopped rhubarb
Instructions
- Preheat: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Combine Crust & Crumble: In a medium bowl, combine all-purpose flour, old-fashioned oats, brown sugar, and kosher salt. Cut in softened unsalted butter until you achieve pea-sized crumbles. Press half the mixture into an ungreased 9x9" pan, setting aside the remainder for topping.
- Make the Filling: In your stand mixer, blend softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and egg until smooth, about 1 minute. Add pure vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Fold in Rhubarb: Gently fold the chopped rhubarb into the cream cheese mixture. Spread this filling over the pressed-in crust and sprinkle the remaining crumble over the top.
- Bake: Bake in your preheated oven for about 40 minutes.
- Cool: Let cool completely on a cooling rack.
Notes
- Use softened butter for the crust and crumble.
- Blend the cream cheese until very smooth.
- Allow the bars to cool completely on a rack.
- Ensure chopped rhubarb pieces are uniform in size.
- Experiment with spices like ginger or cardamom.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 25mg