Receta Cream Cheese Squares...
The mister ate these like he was tossing back a handful of Skittles...couldn't get enough fast enough! Which was a little discouraging because that meant I had to eat them just as fast or there wouldn't be any left! And really, they should be savored...with a nice hot drink...a roaring fire...a good book...without a lurking caveman with large paws and no couth.
(Still trying to figure out how to remove the watermark...without success!) These need to be kept refrigerated but allow them to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before eating...just so the chill is off and the pastry isn't as cold.
Cream Cheese Squares - Pots and Pins
Pastry:
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup ice water
- Filling:
- 1 1/2 packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 egg, slightly beaten
- 1/2 cup sugar
- Topping:
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons sugar
Make the pastry: In a bowl, combine the flour, salt and sugar. Add the butter to the flour mixture and, using a pastry blender, cut it in until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Make a well in the center. In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream, lemon juice and water and add this mixture to the well. With your fingertips, mix in the liquid until large lumps form. Pat the lumps into a ball; do not overwork the dough. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Make the filling: Beat cream cheese, vanilla, egg and 1/2 cup sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until blended. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove dough from refrigerator and cut in half. On a floured work surface, roll out half the dough into a 9-inch square. Transfer to a buttered 9-inch square baking dish. (Roll the pastry over the rolling pin and then unroll it over the baking dish. Press into place.)
Spread filling onto the crust. Roll out remaining dough into a 9-inch square and place on top of cream cheese mixture to form the top crust. Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon in small bowl and sprinkle over the top crust, as much or as little as you like.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool completely before cutting into squares. Makes 16 squares.
"If you want to be happy, be." ~Leo Tolstoy
One year ago: Cheddar and Green Onion Muffins
Two years ago: Pannekuchen and Sugared Bacon