'So This Is What Heaven Tastes Like!' Cream Cheese Bars

4.0
(83)
66 Reviews
21 Photos

This recipe was my absolute favorite sweet treat growing up, and still is! This was my great-grandma's recipe and is NOT for those watching their figure! The result is a very rich, very tasty bar cookie. The nuts and cherries are both optional, but give great variations to this recipe.

Submitted by CookinBug
Updated on February 16, 2022
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Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
25 mins
Additional Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
1 hr
Servings:
36
Yield:
1 - 9x13 inch pan
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 36 servings

  • 1 ½ cups margarine, softened

  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

  • 1 ½ cups white sugar

  • 3 eggs

  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt

  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

  • 1 cup chopped walnuts (Optional)

  • ½ cup well-drained chopped maraschino cherries (Optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

  2. Beat the margarine, cream cheese, and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, allowing each egg to blend into the margarine mixture before adding the next. Beat in the vanilla with the last egg. Mix in the flour, salt, chocolate chips, and walnuts until just incorporated. Fold in the maraschino cherries; mixing just enough to evenly combine. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.

  3. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out nearly clean, about 25 minutes. Watch closely - the finished bars will be very pale in color. Remove from oven immediately if the sides begin to pull away from the pan. Cool pan on a wire rack before cutting into bars.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

237 Calories
15g Fat
24g Carbs
3g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 36
Calories 237
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 15g 19%
Saturated Fat 5g 24%
Cholesterol 22mg 7%
Sodium 210mg 9%
Total Carbohydrate 24g 9%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 14g
Protein 3g 6%
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 19mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 82mg 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.