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Easy Fruit Pizza Sugar Cookie Bars

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A quick and crowd-pleasing dessert featuring a buttery sugar cookie base topped with a creamy almond-infused cream cheese layer and fresh assorted fruit, finished with a shiny apricot glaze.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract (optional but recommended)
  • ½ cup heavy cream, whipped to soft peaks
  • 2 cups assorted fresh fruit (strawberries, kiwi, blueberries, raspberries, grapes, etc.)
  • 1 tablespoon apricot jam, warmed and strained

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line with parchment paper with overhang.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to the butter mixture and mix on low speed until just combined.
  5. Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan using fingers or spatula.
  6. Bake for 15-18 minutes until edges are lightly golden and center is set. Cool completely on a wire rack.
  7. Beat cream cheese with powdered sugar and almond extract until smooth. Whip heavy cream to soft peaks and gently fold into cream cheese mixture.
  8. Spread the cream cheese layer evenly over the cooled cookie crust.
  9. Arrange the fresh fruit artfully on top of the cream cheese layer.
  10. Warm apricot jam until runny, strain, and brush over the fruit to glaze.
  11. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before slicing into squares and serving chilled.

Notes

Use softened butter and cream cheese for best texture. Do not overbake the crust to avoid dryness. Chill bars before slicing to prevent smearing. Frozen fruit can be used if thawed and patted dry. For gluten-free, substitute flour with almond flour or gluten-free baking mix. For dairy-free, use vegan cream cheese and coconut cream.

Nutrition

Keywords: fruit pizza, sugar cookie bars, easy dessert, crowd-pleaser, cream cheese topping, fresh fruit dessert, potluck dessert

Find it online: https://pokirecipes.com/easy-fruit-pizza-sugar-cookie-bars-recipe-perfect-for-a-crowd/