Cream Cheese Bars (Easy Recipe)

These cream cheese bars are always on repeat in my house! They’re easy to make, and always hit the spot. 

If you’ve had them, you already know what I mean.

And if you haven’t? Well, you’re in for a real treat because these are insanely good. 

They’re thick and chewy, with a flaky crescent roll crust.

They also have the rich, warm flavors of cinnamon and vanilla and taste divine. 

All that and a dreamy cheesecake-like filling? Talk about the perfect cream cheese dessert!

Cream Cheese Bars with Crescent Rolls 

As long as you enjoy rich, somewhat indulgent desserts, you’ll love these bars.

They feature a delightful crescent roll crust, and a creamy, sweet-n-tangy cream cheese filling. 

And let’s not forget the robust cinnamon on top! 

They taste like a cheesecake mixed with a sopapilla mixed with soft churros. 

In short, they’re nearly impossible to resist.

They have an excellent taste and a phenomenal texture and are ridiculously easy to make. 

They’re great for any occasion, too. Whether you’re cooking for something formal or casual, these are sure to be a hit.

And unfortunately, you probably won’t have to worry about leftovers.

Ingredients 

• Crescent roll dough: When making desserts, preparing the crust can be a hassle. Using refrigerated crescent roll dough ensures that’s not the case with these bars. You open the package, roll the dough out flat, and press it into the pan.  

• Cream cheese: Cream cheese is a staple in this recipe. It provides the bulk of the filling. It’s creamy, thick, and has a bit of tanginess. It’s an excellent choice for any dessert filling. 

• White sugar: Without sugar, the cream cheese filling might be a little too tangy. With it, though, it’s perfect.

• Vanilla extract: The vanilla also adds a rich layer of sweetness. 

• Margarine: Use the margarine to grease your pan before adding the other ingredients. You’ll also add a generous serving of melted margarine over the top layer of the crescent roll. Feel free to use butter, instead!

• Cinnamon: Fragrant and flavorful cinnamon is the finishing touch on this already delectable dessert. 

Storage and Baking Tips 

Remember, these bars have a cream cheese filling. So they can’t sit at room temperature for more than a couple of hours.

(Less if the room is warm.) 

The better option is to keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to serve them.

If you can return them to the refrigerator after serving, that’s even better. 

If you have any leftovers, which doesn’t often happen, store them in a covered container. Place them in the fridge for up to 5 days. 

You can also freeze them for a couple of months.

However, remember that the crust might be a little mushy when you thaw them. And the cream cheese won’t be as fresh.

See my post “can you freeze cream cheese” for more information.

Variations 

These cream cheese bars are heavenly. However, there are also a few extremely yummy variations to consider. 

Buttery Bars

If you love an extra buttery crust, use butter flake crescent rolls.

They’re just as easy to work with but have a delightful buttery flavor. 

And don’t worry; they won’t take away from the filling or topping at all. 

Vegan Bars

Fortunately, making these bars vegan-friendly is super simple. After all, you can easily find vegan margarine.

Then, the only ingredient you have to worry about is cream cheese.

And locating vegan cream cheese is easier than you think!

If you can’t find it, you could substitute a dairy-free yogurt or coconut cream. 

Also, double-check to make sure your crescent roll dough is vegan.

Most of the well-known brands are, but it never hurts to check. 

Fruity Bars

If you want to make the bars even more flavorful, try adding fruit pie filling. 

You’ll still follow the recipe precisely as it’s written. Just dump your favorite canned pie filling into the mix.

It makes the bars even tastier and much fruitier. 

I think apple tastes best because it pairs so well with cinnamon.

However, I’ve experimented with plenty of flavors, all with very nice results.

Even Sweeter Bars

Despite the tangy cream cheese layer, these are certainly sweet.

But adding powdered sugar along with the cinnamon can make them even sweeter. 

Don’t go overboard, as too much masks the recipe’s other flavors.

However, a nice dusting of powdered sugar makes these doubly delicious. 

Nutty Bars

Anyone who knows me knows that I love sweet and creamy desserts.

Even so, adding a bit of salty, nutty crunchiness usually makes them even better. 

With that in mind, I tried adding pecans to the filling the last time I made this. And oh my goodness!

It was so good. It gave the bars just that little something extra. 

You could throw a few on top if you wanted, too.

I haven’t tried it with walnuts or almonds yet, but I’ll bet they also taste great.