1. Preheat the Oven:
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures your oven is at the right temperature when you’re ready to bake your bars. You don’t want to have to wait for the oven to heat up after you’ve already assembled everything.

2. Prepare the Baking Pan:
Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with butter or cooking spray. This step is essential to prevent the bars from sticking to the pan. If you prefer, you can also line the pan with parchment paper for easy removal after baking.

3. Mix the Cinnamon Sugar:
In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar with the cinnamon. Set this mixture aside. The cinnamon sugar will be sprinkled on top of the bars, giving them a golden, sweet, and slightly spicy crust that complements the creamy filling perfectly.

4. Prepare the Crescent Dough Layer:
Open one can of the crescent roll dough sheets. If you’re using regular crescent rolls, press all the seams together on a cutting board or work surface to form a sheet. Once ready, lay the dough evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. This forms the base of your bars and adds a nice, flaky texture.

5. Make the Cream Cheese Filling:
In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, 1 cup of granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Using an electric mixer or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the mixture on medium speed until smooth and fluffy. The consistency should be light and airy, so take your time to mix it thoroughly.

6. Spread the Cream Cheese Filling:
Carefully press the creamy mixture over the crescent dough, making sure it is spread evenly. The creamy filling will provide the signature flavor and texture of these bars, making them rich and indulgent.

7. Add the Top Crescent Dough Layer:
Open the second can of crescent dough sheets and place them over the cream cheese layer. There’s no need to press the dough down; just lay it gently on top. This creates a flaky, golden crust once baked.

8. Melt the Butter:
Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl or on the stovetop. Once melted, brush it over the top layer of crescent dough. This will give the bars a beautifully golden, slightly crispy top.

9. Sprinkle the Cinnamon Sugar:
Evenly sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over the buttered crescent dough. This adds flavor, sweetness, and that signature cinnamon-spiced crunch.

10. Bake:
Place the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Check on the bars towards the end of the baking time to ensure they’re not overcooking. If the top starts to brown too quickly, cover the pan loosely with aluminum foil.

11. Cool and Cut:
Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely on a cooling rack. After they’ve cooled down, cut them into 24 squares. These bars are best served once they’ve had time to cool, as the filling will set and become easier to slice.