What does a week with vacation days, summer sunshine, and parties need?! No Bake Oreo Bars, obviously!
Happy (almost) 4th of July! How are you celebrating this year? I know it’s kind of weird that it’s a Wednesday, like do you take off the beginning of the week, the end of the week, or just Wednesday? Regardless, it’s gotta include a lot of good food that’s sure to please a crowd.
See: No Bake Oreo Bars.
You guys, I can’t handle it. I’m obsessed. It’s so dangerous because these bars are so incredibly easy to make, I have to physically restrain myself often, otherwise, I’d be eating them 24/7 and I have to find some kind of balance.
When I was little, I couldn’t get enough of those box dessert bars. You know, the ones that come with everything in the box, including a lot of mystery ingredients that you can’t pronounce and aren’t really sure where or what they are. I know there’s a time and place for quick and easy desserts, but why make them out of the box when you can make it at home, minimizing the mystery ingredients? Disclaimer, obviously Oreos are a processed food. It’s about balance!
No Bake Oreo Bars are everything I remember – and want – in an Oreo bar. They’re light, creamy, perfectly sweet, and have a crunchy Oreo crust.
How do you get such a perfect combination? The filling is a mix of both whipped cream and cream cheese, which creates a luscious, light, creamy filling. Naturally, Oreo pieces are pieced throughout (these are Oreo bars after all!). And could you have these without Oreos on top? Definitely not. Requirement. Oreos everywhere.
These need a disclaimer: addictive.
Even more addicting because they are seriously SO EASY. And NO BAKE! Just make the crust, whip the whipped cream, cream the cream cheese, and fold it all together. Done, and done!
What better dessert for summer cookouts/BBQs/pool days – they require such little work, it’s a no-brainer. I highly recommend keeping them stored in the fridge, which means they’re also a cool treat on hot days, too! I’ll stop rambling on about how addicting/luscious/amazing/yummilicious these No Bake Oreo Bars are because if you’re still with me, I’m sure you’re ready to go make ’em!
Have an amazing 4th of July and don’t forget to let me know what’s on your menu!
No Bake Oreo Bars
Ingredients
- 44 Oreo cookies divided
- 5 Tablespoon unsalted butter melted
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 16 oz. regular cream cheese softened to room temperature
Instructions
- Place the mixing bowl you will use to make whipped cream in the fridge or freezer to chill (I like to use metal because it keeps colder longer). Chilling the bowl helps the whipped cream set up faster.
- Meanwhile, in a food processor, add 28 Oreo cookies. Pulse until a coarse mixture forms. Add the melted butter and continue pulsing until fine crumbs form. Place the crumbs in into a 9×9 baking dish, use the back of a measuring cup to help compact the crumbs and press them into an even layer. Place the crust in fridge for at least 15 minutes.
- Next, make the whipped cream by adding the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and sugar to the chilled mixing bowl. Use a stand or hand mixer to beat on medium-high for approximately 2 minutes until firm peaks form. Transfer to a bowl and place in the fridge.
- Using the same mixing bowl (no extra dishes here!), add the room temperature cream cheese and beat for 3-5 minutes until soft and whipped. Carefully fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese. Crush 8 Oreos and fold them into the cream cheese mixture, then spread it evenly across the Oreo crust.
- Crush the remaining 8 Oreos and scatter them across the top of the bars, or reserve the Oreos until just before serving (see note). Place the bars back in the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour before serving. Keep chilled as much as possible for best results. Cut into 9 large bars, or smaller ones as desired.
Lynn | The Road to Honey
The hubby & I spent a low key Fourth eating tacos & drinking margaritas at a restaurant down the street from us. It was the perfect way to escape the heat. The only thing that would have made it even more perfect was a couple of these delicious beauties. They look incredible & its hard to believe they are so easy to make.
Becca
That sounds like an amazing 4th, Lynn! And thank you – they’re too good if I do say so myself! 🙂
Liz
Ohhh my goodnesssss these DO look addictive!! I’m totally down for anything with Oreos ?? We had a super low key Fourth of July this year with the babe, but it was filled with lots of yummy food, of course!
Wendy Burns
Can you freeze these bars ahead of time and add the cookies on top before serving?
Becca
I haven’t tried it, but I do know that cream cheese doesn’t freeze well. It has a grainy consistency once it thaws, which may be masked some by the whipped cream and cookies if you try to freeze it. If possible, I’d say your best bet is to store in the fridge if you make them a day or two in advance and add the cookies before serving.
Cassie
Yum, yum, YUM! I made these for a Valentine’s Day dessert, and they were delicious! My husband and I had to try a bite an hour after being chilled in the fridge, but we found that they tasted even better the next day. I also appreciated how easy they were to make! I will keep these in mind for future potlucks and gatherings!
Becca
Thanks for the extra chilling tip, Cassie! Glad you enjoyed! 🙂
Becca
Sorry to hear they weren’t sweet enough for you. The recipe isn’t intended to be overly sweet, but rather a light cream cheese dessert as described in the post. If you’re able to, you can remove the filling, add additional sugar according to your tastes, and put the filling back on top of the crust. Hope this helps!