Description
Luscious Peaches and Cream Bars bring summer’s sweetest moments to life with layers of buttery crust and silky cream cheese filling. Fresh peaches dance between creamy textures, promising delightful bites that transport you straight to sunny orchard memories.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit Base:
- 4 peaches, fresh, ripe
- 1/2 cup peach preserves
Crust and Topping:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
Cream Layer:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing excess to hang over the sides for easy removal.
- Create the crust by combining flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and softened butter in a mixing bowl, blending until a crumbly texture forms.
- Press approximately two-thirds of the crust mixture firmly into the prepared pan, creating an even, compact base layer.
- Slice fresh peaches into thin, uniform segments, arranging them in a single layer across the crust.
- Gently spread peach preserves over the peach slices, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Prepare the cream layer by whisking cream cheese, heavy cream, powdered sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and creamy.
- Pour the cream mixture evenly over the peach layer, using a spatula to distribute it carefully.
- Sprinkle the remaining crust mixture across the top of the cream layer, creating a rustic, crumbly topping.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown and the center appears set but slightly jiggly.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely at room temperature for approximately 1 hour.
- Refrigerate for an additional 2 hours to ensure firm, clean slicing.
- Lift the bars out using the parchment paper overhang, cut into squares, and serve chilled.
Notes
- Choose ripe, fragrant peaches for the most intense flavor and sweetness in your bars.
- Swap fresh peaches with frozen or canned if seasonal fresh peaches are unavailable, but drain excess liquid thoroughly.
- Experiment with gluten-free flour blend to make this recipe celiac-friendly and maintain the delicate crust texture.
- Reduce sugar content by using natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup for a healthier alternative without compromising taste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg