Making Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars is a rewarding culinary experience. Follow these simple steps for delicious results:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line an 8×8 inch baking dish with parchment paper for easy removal.

2. Make the Crust: In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, softened butter, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix until crumbly and press it into the bottom of the prepared baking dish evenly.

3. Bake the Crust: Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove it from the oven and allow it to cool slightly.

4. Prepare the Cream Cheese Layer: In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Add the egg and mix until well combined. You can also add the lemon juice and zest at this step for extra flavor.

5. Spread Cream Cheese Layer: Pour the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cooled crust, spreading it out with a spatula to create an even layer.

6. Add Blueberries: Sprinkle the fresh blueberries evenly over the cream cheese mixture, pressing them gently into the mixture to help keep them in place.

7. Bake Again: Return the dish to the oven and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes until the edges are set and the center is slightly jiggly.

8. Cool the Bars: Once baked, remove the dish from the oven and let it cool at room temperature for about 1 hour, then refrigerate for an additional hour to firm up before cutting.

9. Cut into Bars: Once completely cool, lift the bars out using the parchment paper and cut them into squares or rectangles.

10. Serve and Enjoy: Dust with additional powdered sugar if desired, and they are ready to be served!