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Blackberry Pistachio Dream Bars: Your New Favorite Dessert!

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These Blackberry Pistachio Dream Bars are a delightful combination of buttery shortbread crust, creamy filling, and a crunchy pistachio topping. Perfect for impressing guests or indulging in a sweet treat!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup Unsalted Butter
  • 1 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour
  • ½ cup Granulated Sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt
  • 1 cup Powdered Sugar
  • 8 oz Full-Fat Cream Cheese, softened
  • 2 Large Eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 1 teaspoon Lemon Zest
  • 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
  • 1 cup Fresh Blackberries
  • 1 cup Shelled Pistachios, chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and a pinch of salt.
  3. Cut the cold unsalted butter into small cubes and add it to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry blender or your fingertips, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
  4. Press about two-thirds of the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Reserve the remaining one-third for the crumble topping later. Bake the crust for 15-18 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the softened full-fat cream cheese and powdered sugar together on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
  6. Beat in the large eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice until fully incorporated.
  7. Pour the cream cheese filling evenly over the warm, partially baked crust.
  8. Gently dot the fresh blackberries over the cream cheese filling. Then, sprinkle the chopped shelled pistachios evenly over the top.
  9. Take the reserved one-third of the crust mixture and sprinkle it loosely over the blackberries and pistachios.
  10. Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 35-45 minutes, or until the filling is mostly set and the topping is golden brown.
  11. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack at room temperature for at least 2-3 hours.
  12. Once cooled to room temperature, transfer the pan to the refrigerator and chill for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight.
  13. Once thoroughly chilled, use the parchment paper overhang to carefully lift the entire slab of bars out of the pan. Place it on a cutting board and slice into squares or rectangles.

Nutrition

Keywords: Ensure your cream cheese and eggs are at room temperature for a smooth filling. Don't overmix the filling after adding eggs to prevent cracks. Toasting the pistachios enhances their flavor. Use fresh, firm blackberries for best results.

Find it online: https://softtasty.com/blackberry-pistachio-dream-bars-your-new-favorite-dessert/