Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Cooling Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Total time: 2 hours 5 minutes

Yield: 12 Servings

Ingredients:
Blueberry Topping:

• 3½ cups fresh blueberries, divided
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ⅛ cup brown sugar
• 1½ Tbsp. cornstarch
• 1½ Tbsp. water
• ¾ tsp. lemon zest

Crust:

• 1 cup toasted pecans, finely chopped
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 2 cups all-purpose flour

Filling:

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, room temperature

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F and line a 9x13-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.

Blueberry Topping:

1. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add 2 cups of blueberries, sugar, and brown sugar. Mix until sugar is dissolved. Blueberries will start to pop as they heat, this is normal.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water until the cornstarch is dissolved.
3. Pour the cornstarch mixture into the blueberries and stir until thickened.
4. Add the lemon zest. Stir to combine.
5. Remove from heat and fold in the remaining blueberries.
6. Pour the blueberry mixture into a separate bowl. Allow it to cool a few minutes before transferring the bowl to the refrigerator to chill as you make the crust and filling.

Crust:

1. To toast the pecans, add them to a medium skillet over medium heat. Toast until browned and fragrant, stirring frequently (3-5 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool.
2. When ready, in a medium bowl, combine melted butter, flour, and toasted pecans.
3. Press into the bottom of the prepared 9x13-inch baking dish.
4. Bake 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool to room temperature.

Filling:

1. Add heavy cream to a mixing bowl. Start mixing at the lowest speed, and then gradually increase speed to medium until the cream starts to get thicker. (The gradual progression prevents you from spraying yourself with cream.)
2. When the cream starts to thicken, stop the mixer. Slowly add in the confectioners' sugar and then resume mixing again, starting with low speed and increasing to medium speed, and eventually moving to a high speed. The cream will thicken and start to peak.
3. In a separate large bowl, add cream cheese and beat until creamy.
4. Gently fold the whipped cream mixture into the cream cheese. Pour the mixture over the cooled crust.
5. Top with cooled blueberry mixture.
6. Chill in the refrigerator 1 hour before serving.

*Recipe from iambaker.net
*Made by Christine Christensen. Pictured by Eliza Christensen