Irresistible Galentines Strawberry Tart Bars
These strawberry tart bars feature a buttery, flaky crust, silky cream cheese filling, and fresh strawberries for a bright, elegant dessert perfect for sharing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
- ⅓ cup (40g) powdered sugar, sifted
- ⅓ cup (80ml) heavy cream, cold
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 cups (approx. 300g) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 2 tbsp apricot jam, warmed (optional)
- Fresh mint leaves (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Add cold, cubed butter and work it into the flour until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized bits. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Press the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until edges are golden and center feels set.
- While the crust bakes, beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar until smooth. Add cold heavy cream, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Beat until thickened and holds soft peaks. Chill if too runny.
- Once crust is cooled but still slightly warm, spread the cream cheese filling evenly over it.
- Arrange sliced strawberries on top of the filling in neat rows or a pretty pattern.
- Optional: Warm apricot jam until runny and brush lightly over strawberries for a glossy finish.
- Chill tart bars in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before slicing.
- Use parchment overhang to lift bars out of pan. Slice into 12 squares, wiping knife clean between cuts.
Notes
Keep butter cold when making crust for flaky texture. Chill filling if too runny before spreading. Slice strawberries just before assembling to avoid sogginess. Use parchment overhang to lift bars easily. For gluten-free, substitute almond flour; for dairy-free, use coconut cream and dairy-free cream cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (1 of 12)
- Calories: 250
- Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 27
- Protein: 3
Keywords: strawberry tart bars, Galentines dessert, easy strawberry dessert, cream cheese tart, fresh strawberry bars