Description
Delight in these luscious Cherry Pie Bars featuring a buttery crust and a generous layer of sweet cherry pie filling, topped with a smooth almond-vanilla glaze. Perfect for sharing at gatherings or enjoying as a sweet treat any time.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Bars
- 1 cup softened unsalted butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 (21-ounce) cans cherry pie filling
For the Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly spray a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan with pan spray and set it aside to prepare for the batter.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This creates a rich base for the bars.
- Add Eggs and Extracts: Beat in the four large eggs until fully incorporated. Then add the vanilla extract and almond extract, mixing well to infuse the batter with flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt. Gradually add this to the creamed mixture, mixing until just combined to form a smooth batter.
- Assemble the Bars: Spread about 3 cups of the batter evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Carefully spread the cherry pie filling evenly over the batter. Drop spoonfuls of the remaining batter over the top, trying to cover as much of the cherries as you can.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top is lightly golden brown. Adjust baking time if using a different pan size.
- Cool Completely: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan. Cooling ensures the bars set properly for easy cutting and serving.
- Prepare Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract, and milk until smooth and pourable.
- Drizzle Glaze: Drizzle the glaze evenly over the cooled bars for a sweet, glossy finish. Allow the glaze to set before slicing and serving.
Notes
- If you prefer a slightly shorter bake time, using a larger 15 x 10-inch pan will reduce baking to about 30 minutes.
- The glaze can be adjusted in thickness by adding more milk to thin it or more powdered sugar to thicken.
- Make sure the bars are completely cool before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting and running off.
- Use a sharp knife warmed slightly under hot water for clean, neat slices.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
