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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

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    Fresh Strawberry Cream Cheese Swirl Bars Celebrate Spring

    Published: Apr 7, 2020 · Modified: May 20, 2024 by Audrey · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Strawberry Cream Cheese Swirl Bars: fresh strawberries mixed with a cream cheese dough for a soft and sweet cookie with the perfect amount of tang.

    These lovely Fresh Strawberry Cream Cheese Swirl Bars are a delicious way to celebrate Spring.

    Thanks to the cream cheese these cookie bars have a soft chewy texture and just a hint of tanginess.

    strawberry cream cheese swirl cookie bars on a plate

    Fresh strawberries just scream spring! The only drawback is that when mixed with batter that beautiful bright red color becomes a pale dusty rose.

    I could have used food coloring to make up for it, but that seems ... I don't know... disingenuous?... unnecessary?... phony?  Maybe, I am as programmed as everyone else to think if it is strawberry it needs to have that artificial red color.

    Instead of grabbing the food coloring I decided to chop up some fresh berries and add those too for extra strawberry flavor and a nice pop of bright red color.

    Ingredients for Strawberry Cream Cheese Swirl Bars

    • fresh strawberries
    • cream cheese (regular or low fat)
    • butter (or your favorite substitute)
    • sugar
    • egg (or egg substitute)
    • vanilla extract
    • all purpose flour
    • baking powder
    • salt

    Note that the amount of flour could be different every time you make it depending on the juiciness of the strawberries. You will need to add extra flour to the strawberry half of the dough so it is the same consistency as the other half. It is not an exact science, just come close.

    strawberry cream cheese swirl cookie bars on a plate

    Recipe

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Ingredients
     

    • ¾ cups strawberries
    • 4 oz low fat cream cheese (room temperature)
    • 4 oz butter (room temperature)
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 egg
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 cup flour
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼- ½ cup flour

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350℉. Grease a 9 inch square baking pan.
    • Puree enough strawberries to make ½ cup of puree. Finely chop remaining berries and set aside.
    • In a large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until blended. Add sugar and beat for 1-2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined.
    • In a medium bowl whisk together 1 cup of flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to cream cheese mixture and beat until combined.
    • Separate half of the dough into the medium bowl and add strawberry puree. Mix until combined. Add enough flour until dough is roughly the same consistency as plain half of dough.
    • Drop heaping tablespoons of dough into a 9 inch square baking pan, alternating strawberry and plain. Top with chopped strawberries.
      Strawberry Cream Cheese Swirl Cookie Bars - fresh strawberries mixed with a cream cheese dough make a soft cookie bar.
    • Press down with wet hands and swirl.
      Strawberry Cream Cheese Swirl Cookie Bars - fresh strawberries mixed with a cream cheese dough make a soft cookie bar.
    • Bake until cookie turns light brown, about 10-15 minutes. Cool, cut into 16 bars.

    More Strawberry Recipes

    strawberry cake roll
    Strawberry Shortcake Cake Roll
    Chocolate Strawberry Bites cookies
    Chocolate Strawberry Bites Cookies
    Iced drink with a fresh strawberry on a table
    Strawberry Shrub (alcohol free spritzer)

    Until the next time, happy eating.
    ~Audrey

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Teri@The Freshman Cook

      April 07, 2016 at 10:12 am

      Yum! You had me at strawberries! These look amazing, and perfect for spring or anytime!

      Reply
      • Audrey

        April 07, 2016 at 4:26 pm

        Oh, I agree. Strawberries are always a big hit in my house

      • Audrey

        April 18, 2016 at 10:54 am

        Thanks, Teri. I love fresh berries this time of year.

    2. Joanne/WineLady Cooks

      April 07, 2016 at 4:37 pm

      Audrey, these fresh strawberry cream cheese swirls are perfect for spring and a delicious Mother's Day treat as well. Love these.

      Reply
      • Audrey

        April 18, 2016 at 10:53 am

        Thanks, Joanne.

    3. Cindy Kerschner

      April 08, 2016 at 2:35 am

      These bars are the perfect strawberry color. Pastel pink for spring! Yum!

      Reply
      • Audrey

        April 18, 2016 at 10:53 am

        Thanks, Cindy. I like the natural pink color.

    4. Debbie Rodrigues

      April 09, 2016 at 1:13 pm

      I need to find a vegan substitute for the cream cheese. I need this!
      Strawberries are one of my weaknesses. :p

      Reply
    5. Marilyn

      April 10, 2016 at 4:09 pm

      Sorry, short comments today. Migraine. Thank you for sharing. Yummed!

      Reply
      • Audrey

        April 18, 2016 at 10:51 am

        feel better soon.

    6. CC

      June 01, 2016 at 2:16 pm

      Yes! Cannot wait to make these. I'm with you- strawberries just scream spring. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    7. Marilyn Lesniak

      April 07, 2020 at 6:16 pm

      Thank you for hosting! This is what I featured the week of 3-30 to 4-3-20 on my blog. On Tuesday was a Brownie Cheesecake No Bake. Wednesday was my Hershey’s Best Brownie, Thursday was a Hot Brownie Cake. And winding up this Week of Brownies is Tip Friday Keeping Baked Goods Fresh. Enjoy!

      Reply

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    audrey humaciu in kitchen

    Welcome, I'm Audrey, an avid "maker" that believes home made is better.

    Whether it's cooking, crafting, gardening, home décor, even blog design, I love getting my hands dirty and trying new things... even if I make a mess in the process.

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