Ingredients
– 1 cup all-purpose flour
– 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
– 1/2 cup granulated sugar
– 8 oz cream cheese, softened
– 1 large egg
– 1 tsp vanilla extract
– 1 tsp cinnamon
– 1/2 cup brown sugar
– 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for topping)
– 1/4 cup unsalted butter (for topping)
Equipment Needed
– Mixing bowls
– 8×8 inch baking dish
– Electric mixer or whisk
– Measuring cups and spoons
– Baking parchment paper
– Small saucepan (for melting butter)
Step-by-Step Instructions
To start with, I preheat my oven to 350°F (175°C) and line my baking dish with parchment paper. This helps make the bars easier to lift out once they’re baked. Next, in a mixing bowl, I combine the melted butter, flour, and granulated sugar until it forms a crumbly mixture. I press this mixture firmly into the bottom of my prepared baking dish to create the crust. It’s super satisfying to see it form after I’ve pressed it down! Then, I pop it into the oven for about 10 minutes just to set it. While that’s baking, I whip up the cheesecake filling. In another bowl, I mix up the softened cream cheese, egg, vanilla extract, and brown sugar until it’s smooth and creamy. The smell of the cream cheese combined with vanilla is heavenly! (See the next page below to continue steps…)