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
Scale
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
