Cherry Bars
Cherry Bars are an easy-to-make dessert bar recipe featuring sweet cherry pie filling, a buttery cookie-like crust, and a light almond glaze. Perfect for holidays, potlucks, and weeknight treats, these cherry bars taste just like cherry pie in handheld form.
- Prep Time: 20min
- Cook Time: 30min
- Total Time: 55min
- Yield: 24 bars
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
½ tsp salt
4 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp almond extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 (21 oz) can cherry pie filling
1 cup powdered sugar (for glaze)
1–2 Tbsp milk (for glaze)
¼ tsp almond extract (for glaze)
Instructions
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Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 15x10x1-inch pan or line with parchment paper.
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Make Dough: Cream together butter, sugar, and salt in a large bowl until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla and almond extracts.
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Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually mix in flour and baking powder until just combined.
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Layer the Bars: Spread ⅔ of the dough into the pan. Evenly spread the cherry pie filling over the dough. Drop spoonfuls of the remaining dough over the top.
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Bake: Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool completely in the pan.
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Glaze: Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract until smooth. Drizzle over cooled bars. Allow glaze to set before slicing.
Notes
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Substitute with other fruit fillings like blueberry or apple for variety.
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Add chopped almonds or pecans for texture.
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Use homemade cherry filling for a richer flavor.
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To ensure clean slices, chill the bars before cutting and use a sharp knife.
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Bars freeze well up to 3 months; thaw before serving.
Find it online: https://thefamilycooking.com/cherry-bars/
