Best Cherry Bars with Brown Butter
User Reviews
5
Best Cherry Bars with Brown Butter
Description
These cherry bars start with a buttery dough mixed with vanilla extract, sugar, and flour pressed into a baking dish. The dough bakes until golden and slightly puffed, forming a sturdy base. Meanwhile, the filling is prepared by browning butter to develop a rich, toasted flavor, then combined with eggs, sugar, vanilla, and almond extracts, flour, and salt to create a smooth custard-like mixture.
Fresh pitted cherries are tossed with a small amount of flour to absorb moisture and prevent the filling from becoming too wet. Once the crust cools, the cherry filling is poured on top and the bars bake further until set. The result is a dessert with a tender, nutty crust supporting a moist, flavorful cherry custard filling reminiscent of a fruit tart bar.
This recipe, adapted from notable sources, yields a dessert that pairs well with tea or coffee and can be cut into generous portions. Properly pitting cherries and careful browning of butter are key steps to maximize flavor and texture.
Ingredients
- 4 cups Cherry fresh, pitted
- 2 tsp all-purpose flour
Crust:
- ¾ cup butter 12 Tbsp; melted, unsalted
- ½ tsp vanilla extract pure
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ⅛ tsp kosher salt Diamond Crystal brand
Filling:
- 1 cup butter 16 Tbsp, unsalted
- 3 egg large, 50 g each, without shell
- ⅔ cup sugar
- ⅛ tsp kosher salt Diamond Crystal brand
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract pure
- 1 tsp almond extract
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients. Preheat oven to 375ºF (190ºC). For a convection oven, reduce cooking temperature by 25ºF (15ºC). Line a 13 x 9-inch (33 x 23 cm) baking dish with parchment paper.
- Pit cherries and toss them with 2 tsp flour.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine melted butter, vanilla, and sugar. Mix on medium speed until well blended and smooth.
- Blend in flour and salt and stir until incorporated.
- Press dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Bake until the crust is golden and slightly puffed, about 18 minutes. When the crust is done, transfer it to a wire rack and cool it in the pan.
- Meanwhile, let’s make the filling. Cut the butter into pieces and place it in a saucepan over medium heat. Melt the butter completely stirring frequently with the spatula. As the butter heats, it will begin to foam and then bubble. After several minutes, the milk solids will start to become brown on the bottom of the pan. Make sure that milk solids do not stick to the pan. Continue stirring until the butter is evenly browned, being careful not to burn. Remove from the heat and pour browned butter into a glass bowl to cool slightly.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine eggs, sugar, salt, and extracts in a medium bowl and whisk all together.
- Gradually blend in flour by ⅓ at a time, but do not overmix.
- Gradually blend in browned butter and whisk mixture until completely blended.
- Arrange cherries over cooled crust. Carefully pour the filling evenly over the fruit.
- Bake at 375ºF (190ºC) for about 30 minutes, until the filling is puffed and golden. A skewer inserted in the center should come out clean. Cool the bars completely in the pan on a wire rack. Carefully lift the parchment paper to remove the cooled bars from the pan and place them on a cutting board. Cut them into squares using a knife.
To Store
- Store bars in an airtight container for up to one day at room temperature, then store any remaining in the refrigerator.
Notes
- This recipe is adapted from Tutti Dolci and originally inspired by Smitten Kitchen.
- Ensure cherries are properly pitted and lightly coated with flour to avoid excess moisture in the filling.
- Brown the butter carefully, stirring frequently to prevent burning and achieve a rich nutty flavor in the filling and crust.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 1(13"
Amount Per Serving
Calories 5520 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1baking dish 13"x9" | |
| Calories | 5520kcal | 276% |
| Carbohydrates | 572g | 191% |
| Protein | 61g | 122% |
| Fat | 341g | 525% |
| Saturated Fat | 209g | 1045% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 17g | 100% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 90g | 450% |
| Trans Fat | 13g | 650% |
| Cholesterol | 1412mg | 471% |
| Sodium | 546mg | 23% |
| Potassium | 1886mg | 40% |
| Fiber | 20g | 80% |
| Sugar | 313g | 626% |
| Vitamin A | 11091IU | 222% |
| Vitamin C | 39mg | 43% |
| Calcium | 302mg | 30% |
| Iron | 20mg | 111% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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