Description
Delightfully sweet and fruity cherry bars featuring a buttery crust and luscious cherry pie filling, topped with a smooth vanilla-almond glaze. Perfect as an easy-to-make American dessert for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
For the 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 oz) can cherry pie filling
For the Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease or line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper to ensure easy removal of the bars after baking.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which helps create a tender texture.
- Add eggs and extracts: Beat in the eggs one at a time to fully incorporate them. Then mix in the vanilla and almond extracts to infuse the batter with flavor.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until the batter is fully combined and smooth.
- Layer the batter and filling: Spread about two-thirds of the batter evenly into the prepared pan, creating a solid base for the filling. Spoon the cherry pie filling evenly over the batter layer, followed by dolloping the remaining batter by spoonfuls over the cherry filling, allowing some filling to peek through.
- Bake the bars: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35–40 minutes until the top turns golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating doneness.
- Cool completely: Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan to allow them to set and make glazing easier.
- Prepare and drizzle glaze: Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla or almond extract until smooth. Drizzle this glaze evenly over the cooled bars and let it set before cutting into squares.
- Serve: Cut into 24 squares and serve as a delightful dessert or sweet snack.
Notes
- For variety, substitute cherry pie filling with blueberry, apple, or raspberry pie filling.
- Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
