If you’re searching for the ultimate festive breakfast treat, look no further than the Cherry Bars Recipe: A Sweet Treat for Christmas Morning. Imagine soft, buttery cake layered with ribbons of bright cherry pie filling, finished with a delicate almond glaze that shimmers just like freshly fallen snow. These bars are not only impossibly easy to whip up, but they bring a burst of color and cheer to the holiday table. Whether you make them ahead for a stress-free Christmas morning or serve them fresh from the oven, these cherry bars are bound to become a beloved family tradition.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of the Cherry Bars Recipe: A Sweet Treat for Christmas Morning is in its simplicity—each ingredient plays a key role in creating a treat that’s rich, tender, and bursting with holiday flavor. Let’s take a closer look at what you’ll need and why!
- Unsalted butter, softened: Gives the bars their melt-in-your-mouth texture and luscious flavor base.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the dough and helps create a light, fluffy crumb.
- Large eggs: Bind everything together and add richness to the batter.
- Vanilla extract: Deepens the aroma and enhances all the sweet notes.
- Almond extract: Lends a festive, nutty undertone that pairs beautifully with cherries.
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure so your bars hold up to slicing.
- Baking powder: Gives a gentle lift, resulting in a soft, cake-like bite.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and brightens all the flavors.
- Cherry pie filling (21-ounce can): The star of the show—adds juicy, tangy bursts of cherry in every bite.
- Powdered sugar (for glaze): Creates a silky-smooth, snowy glaze that’s as pretty as it is tasty.
- Milk (for glaze): Thins the glaze to the perfect drizzling consistency.
- Almond extract (for glaze): Echoes the almond flavor in the bars and makes the glaze extra special.
How to Make Cherry Bars Recipe: A Sweet Treat for Christmas Morning
Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Pan
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan—this ensures the bars release easily and keeps cleanup a breeze. A little parchment paper at the bottom is an optional extra step for even easier slicing.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step is key to creating a bar with a tender, cake-like crumb, so don’t rush it—give it a solid few minutes.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Extracts
Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts, which add both warmth and that irresistible bakery aroma to your Cherry Bars Recipe: A Sweet Treat for Christmas Morning.
Step 4: Mix Dry Ingredients and Combine
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to your wet mixture, mixing gently until just combined. This keeps the bars soft and prevents overmixing.
Step 5: Assemble the Bars
Spread about two-thirds of the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Don’t worry if it looks like a thin layer—it will puff up as it bakes. Spoon the cherry pie filling over the top, spreading it out so every bite gets some fruit. Drop the remaining batter by spoonfuls over the cherries, leaving some gaps so that vibrant red filling peeks through.
Step 6: Bake
Place the pan in the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top is just golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. Your kitchen will smell absolutely amazing!
Step 7: Cool and Glaze
Let the bars cool completely in the pan—this helps them set up and makes slicing much easier. While they cool, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract for the glaze. Drizzle the glaze generously over the cooled bars, creating gorgeous snowy ribbons.
How to Serve Cherry Bars Recipe: A Sweet Treat for Christmas Morning
Garnishes
For a magical holiday touch, dust your cherry bars with a little extra powdered sugar or sprinkle with festive red and green sprinkles. A few toasted sliced almonds on top can add crunch and a lovely nutty accent that echoes the almond extract in the bars.
Side Dishes
Serve your Cherry Bars Recipe: A Sweet Treat for Christmas Morning alongside a big mug of hot cocoa, spiced chai, or classic holiday coffee. These bars are also delightful with a bowl of fresh fruit or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra-indulgent breakfast spread.
Creative Ways to Present
For a festive gathering, cut the bars into fun shapes with a cookie cutter, or layer them on a vintage cake stand with a scattering of fresh cherries and mint leaves. Wrap individual squares in wax paper and ribbon for a charming edible gift or Christmas morning treat-to-go!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once cooled and glazed, the bars can be covered tightly and stored at room temperature for up to two days. They stay wonderfully moist and flavorful, making them perfect for prepping ahead of a busy holiday morning.
Freezing
To freeze, let the bars cool completely and slice them first for easy thawing. Wrap individual bars or the whole slab tightly in plastic wrap and foil. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to three months. For best results, add the glaze after thawing.
Reheating
If you prefer your Cherry Bars Recipe: A Sweet Treat for Christmas Morning slightly warm, just pop individual bars in the microwave for about 10 seconds. This brings out the buttery aroma and softens the cherry filling, making them taste oven-fresh!
FAQs
Can I use homemade cherry pie filling instead of canned?
Absolutely! Homemade cherry pie filling will make your bars even more special. Just make sure it’s thick enough so it doesn’t run, and use the same amount as the recipe calls for.
Can I substitute the almond extract if someone has a nut allergy?
Yes, you can omit the almond extract entirely or replace it with extra vanilla extract. The bars will still taste delicious, but without the nutty almond undertone.
How can I make the glaze thicker or thinner?
For a thicker glaze, simply use less milk. If you want a delicate drizzle, add a little more milk until you reach the consistency you like. Always add the milk gradually to avoid thinning it too much.
Can I use other pie fillings?
Definitely! Blueberry, apple, or even peach pie filling can all be used for a fun twist, though the classic cherry is especially festive for Christmas morning.
Is it possible to make this recipe gluten-free?
Yes, just swap the all-purpose flour for your favorite gluten-free baking blend (make sure it contains xanthan gum for structure). The bars may be a bit more delicate, but you’ll still get that irresistible flavor.
Final Thoughts
If you want to add a little extra sparkle to your holiday breakfast, you can’t go wrong with the Cherry Bars Recipe: A Sweet Treat for Christmas Morning. It’s festive, easy, and guaranteed to bring smiles to everyone gathered around your table. So go ahead—make a batch and watch these bars disappear before the Christmas tree lights have even finished twinkling!
Print
Cherry Bars Recipe: A Sweet Treat for Christmas Morning Recipe
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 24 bars 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight in these cherry bars, a perfect sweet treat for Christmas morning or any festive occasion. Featuring a buttery, tender base layered with luscious cherry pie filling and finished with a light almond glaze, these bars combine fruity flavor with a moist, cake-like texture that will charm your holiday guests.
Ingredients
Bars
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1¾ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 (21-ounce) can cherry pie filling
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together using an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, ensuring a smooth base.
- Add Eggs and Extracts: Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then add the vanilla and almond extracts, blending thoroughly for balanced flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and seasoning.
- Mix Batter: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding carefully until fully combined but without overmixing, to maintain a tender crumb.
- Layer Batter and Cherry Filling: Spread about two-thirds of the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Spoon the cherry pie filling over this base, spreading it out evenly for consistent coverage.
- Top with Remaining Batter: Drop the remaining batter by spoonfuls over the cherries, leaving some gaps so the filling peeks through and creates an appealing pattern.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan to set the structure and make slicing easier.
- Prepare Glaze: Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract until smooth and pourable. Adjust milk amount for desired thickness.
- Glaze and Serve: Drizzle the glaze over the cooled bars evenly, then slice into 24 bars and serve as a luscious holiday dessert.
Notes
- These bars can be made a day ahead and stored covered at room temperature to enhance flavors.
- Substitute cherry pie filling with blueberry or apple filling for a delightful twist.
- For a thicker glaze, reduce the amount of milk used when mixing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 19g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
