* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Cream cheese orange bars
A sweet and creamy tea-time treat
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time50 minutesmins
Chilling and cooling time3 hourshrs15 minutesmins
Total Time4 hourshrs20 minutesmins
Course: Dessert, Tea-time
Cuisine: British
Servings: 12
Calories: 471kcal
Equipment
Square baking tin with parchment paper
Large mixing bowl
Ingredients
For the shortbread base:
250gplain flour
1/2tspsalt
70gcaster sugar
Zest of 1 large orange
220gbutterchilled and cubed
For the filling:
220gcream cheese – we used Paysan Breton French Sea Salt cream cheese
400gcaster sugar
40gplain flour
Juice of 1 large orange
Zest of 2 large oranges
6eggs
1tspvanilla extract
icing sugar, for dusting
Optional: slices of orange for decoration
Method
Pre-heat the oven to 180ºC and line a square baking tin with parchment paper.
First make the shortbread base. In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, caster sugar and orange zest. Add the cubed butter. Using the tips of your fingers rub the butter through the flour until you have a breadcrumb like texture. Be careful not to over work it.
Pour the mix into the prepared baking tin and press it down until compact. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until just starting to turn golden brown. Set aside.
To prepare the filling. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the cream cheese and caster sugar until smooth. Mix in the flour, juice and zest of two oranges, the eggs and vanilla extract until completely incorporated. Pour the filling mixture over the shortbread base and place back in the oven for 40-45 minutes until set.
Leave to cool for 15 minutes and then place in the fridge to cool for 3-4 hours.
Remove from the tin, slice into bars and sprinkle with icing sugar. You can decorate the bars with slices of orange for an extra zesty kick.