These lovely Fresh Strawberry Cream Cheese Swirl Bars are a delicious way to celebrate Spring.
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? I guess 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.
Thanks to the cream cheese these cookie bars have a soft chewy texture and just a hint of tanginess.
And I think they make a nice little spring treat.
Strawberry Cream Cheese Swirl Bars
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" 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" square baking pan, alternating strawberry and plain. Top with chopped strawberries.
- Press down with wet hands and swirl.
- Bake until cookie turns light brown, about 10-15 minutes. Cool, cut into 16 bars.
More Strawberry Recipes
Until the next time, happy eating.
~Audrey
Teri@The Freshman Cook
Yum! You had me at strawberries! These look amazing, and perfect for spring or anytime!
Audrey
Oh, I agree. Strawberries are always a big hit in my house
Audrey
Thanks, Teri. I love fresh berries this time of year.
Joanne/WineLady Cooks
Audrey, these fresh strawberry cream cheese swirls are perfect for spring and a delicious Mother's Day treat as well. Love these.
Audrey
Thanks, Joanne.
Cindy Kerschner
These bars are the perfect strawberry color. Pastel pink for spring! Yum!
Audrey
Thanks, Cindy. I like the natural pink color.
Debbie Rodrigues
I need to find a vegan substitute for the cream cheese. I need this!
Strawberries are one of my weaknesses. :p
Marilyn
Sorry, short comments today. Migraine. Thank you for sharing. Yummed!
Audrey
feel better soon.
CC
Yes! Cannot wait to make these. I'm with you- strawberries just scream spring. Thanks for sharing!
Marilyn Lesniak
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!