Description
Delight in these festive Christmas Cherry Bars featuring a buttery, tender crust layered with sweet cherry pie filling and topped with a delicate almond glaze. Perfect for holiday gatherings, these bars combine classic flavors and a soft, golden crust baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Bars
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling
For the Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 10×15-inch baking pan to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until fully combined.
- Assemble Base Layer: Spread about three-quarters of the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan, reserving the remaining dough for the topping.
- Add Cherry Filling: Evenly spread the cherry pie filling over the dough in the pan, ensuring full coverage.
- Top with Remaining Dough: Drop spoonfuls of the reserved dough over the cherry filling to create a rustic top layer.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Prepare Glaze: While the bars are baking, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract until smooth and creamy.
- Glaze Bars: After baking, allow the bars to cool slightly, then drizzle the glaze evenly over the top.
- Serve: Let the bars cool completely before cutting into 24 servings and serving.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is softened to room temperature for easier creaming and a smoother batter.
- Use a light hand when dropping the dough on top of the cherry filling for a more rustic, textured appearance.
- The glaze can be substituted with a simple powdered sugar and milk mixture if almond extract is unavailable.
- Bars keep well stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
- For a festive touch, sprinkle additional chopped nuts or colored sugar on top before baking.
