Here is a recipe for Cream Cheese Custard Bars – a rich, creamy dessert with a soft custard center, sweet cream cheese layer, and a tender crust. This recipe creates a delicious, bakery-style treat perfect for gatherings or indulgent snacking.
🧁 Cream Cheese Custard Bars Recipe
📝 Ingredients
For the Crust:
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1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
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2 cups all-purpose flour
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½ cup powdered sugar
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¼ tsp salt
For the Custard Filling:
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4 large eggs
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1½ cups granulated sugar
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½ cup all-purpose flour
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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2 cups whole milk, warm
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¼ tsp salt
For the Cream Cheese Layer:
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8 oz cream cheese, softened
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½ cup granulated sugar
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1 large egg
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1 tsp vanilla extract
🧑🍳 Instructions
1. Preheat & Prep:
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Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
2. Make the Crust:
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In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, powdered sugar, flour, and salt.
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Mix until crumbly, like coarse sand.
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Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
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Bake for 15 minutes, or until just lightly golden.
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Remove from oven and let cool slightly while preparing the filling.
3. Make the Cream Cheese Layer:
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In a bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth.
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Add sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Beat until creamy and well combined.
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Set aside.
4. Make the Custard Layer:
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In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, flour, vanilla extract, and salt.
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Slowly add the warm milk, whisking constantly to avoid scrambling the eggs.
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The mixture will be thin — that’s expected!
5. Assemble the Bars:
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Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the baked crust.
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Slowly pour the custard filling over the cream cheese layer. Pour gently so the layers stay mostly separate.
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Place the pan carefully back into the oven.
6. Bake:
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Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 35–40 minutes, or until the center is just set but still slightly jiggly. The edges may puff slightly.
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If the top begins to brown too quickly, loosely cover with foil during the last 10–15 minutes.
7. Cool and Chill:
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Let the bars cool completely at room temperature.
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Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight. This helps the custard and cream cheese layers firm up for clean slicing.
🍽 Serving
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Cut into squares or bars using a sharp knife.
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Dust with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.
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Best served chilled.
🧊 Storage
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Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
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These bars do not freeze well due to the custard texture.
✅ Tips
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Warm the milk before adding to the custard mix to help everything combine smoothly.
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Don’t skip chilling — it’s key to achieving the right texture.
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For extra flavor, add a touch of lemon zest to the cream cheese mixture or a pinch of nutmeg to the custard.