Description
Crème Brûlée Cookie Bars combine the rich, creamy custard flavor of classic crème brûlée with the buttery crunch of a cookie crust — all topped with a crisp caramelized sugar layer. A decadent and easy-to-serve dessert twist on a French favorite!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (for cream cheese layer)
- 1 large egg (for cream cheese layer)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for cream cheese layer)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for brûlée topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to wet ingredients until combined.
- Press two-thirds of the cookie dough into the bottom of the prepared pan to form an even layer.
- In another bowl, beat cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Pour over the cookie base and spread evenly.
- Dollop the remaining cookie dough over the top and gently spread or flatten as evenly as possible.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the center is set and edges are golden brown. Let cool completely.
- Just before serving, sprinkle the top with 1/4 cup granulated sugar and use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar until golden and crisp.
- Slice into bars and serve.
Notes
- If you don’t have a kitchen torch, place under the broiler for 1-2 minutes, watching carefully.
- Refrigerate bars before brûlée-ing for a firmer texture.
- Store leftovers in the fridge and brûlée the topping just before serving for best texture.
- Use high-quality vanilla for maximum flavor in the custard layer.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 125mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: crème brûlée bars, cookie bars, caramelized sugar dessert, cream cheese bars, easy crème brûlée