Cinnamon Cream Cheese Bars

The cinnamon-sugar topping on Cinnamon Cream Cheese Bars reminds me of an elephant ear or churros.  This dessert bar recipe is much easier to make at home and has a layer of cream cheese for extra goodness!

Cream Cheese Bars

Imagine a crescent roll crust with a perfect combination of cinnamon and sugar then filled with a rich cream cheese mixture.  Whether you’re imagining or eating these cream cheese bars this is a recipe that leaves you and your guests wanting more!

Growing up in a dairy farming family we love the rich flavors of dairy products.  Being human we love how sprinkling a cinnamon sugar evenly over melted butter and crescent dough really makes the magic happen in this recipe.  Pop this combination in the oven to make a unique dessert is a hit at every get-together.

This is one of those recipes that is perfect for a potluck or holiday meal.  It is easy to make, it will be different from the other desserts and people will devour it!

Some other unique yet crave-worthy recipes we have for potlucks are No-Bake Pineapple Pretzel Salad,  Almond Bark Specials, 5 Ingredient Chocolate & Peanut Butter Bars, Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats and Gooey Marshmallow Brownies.

We’ve had some debate about whether these cream cheese bars are more of a dessert sandwich or bar cookie.  Whatever you call it I bet you love the taste.

Crescent Roll Cream Cheese Bars

Semi-homemade recipes are some of our favorites!  We don’t mind spending a little time in the kitchen, but we don’t want to spend days in the kitchen.

This cream cheese dessert with a taste of cinnamon and sugar is very convenient to make with refrigerated crescent dough.  Crescent rolls work well or the sheets of crescent dough work great too!  The sheets fit very well in a 9 x 13 inch baking pan.

Our Sticky Bun Swirl Cake is similar in that it has a homemade taste, but allows taking some short cuts by using easier ingredients.  Both these crescent roll cream cheese bars and the box mix cake make a great dessert or a really rich addition to the brunch table.

How to Make Cinnamon Sugar Cream Cheese Bars

1. Spread one package of crescent roll dough in an ungreased 9 x 13 pan.
2. Beat filling ingredients – cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Spread mixture over rolls.
3. Spread second package of crescent rolls across top of the cream cheese mixture.
4. Melt butter and spread evenly over the top.
5. Mix cinnamon and 1/4 cup of sugar and sprinkle over top.
6. Bake at 350° for 25 – 30 minutes until lightly browned.
7. Cool completely before cutting. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Tips for Making Cream Cheese Dessert Bars

• Let cream cheese soften so it’s easier to mix and spread
• Sheets of crescent dough
• When pouring butter over the top be sure it’s spread evenly, we use a basting brush to spread the melted butter around
• Ensure there are no pools of butter, keep spreading it out if butter puddles exist – this will make a more uniform looking top crust
• Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture with your fingers evenly across the melted butter
• Store extras in the refrigerator

Printable Cinnamon Cream Cheese Bars Recipe

Shared Weekend Potluck and Meal Plan Monday