Cherry Bars
User Reviews
5
Cherry Bars
Description
This recipe for Cherry Bars starts with a rich dough made from softened butter, sugar, eggs, and a blend of vanilla and almond extracts. The dough is divided so two-thirds form the base, spread evenly across a 10 by 15-inch jelly roll pan. Two cans of cherry pie filling are layered evenly over this base, contributing a juicy and sweet fruit layer.
The remaining dough is dropped in small teaspoon-sized dollops across the cherry filling, creating pockets of buttery dough that brown during baking. The bars bake until golden and fully set, delivering a contrast of flaky dough and soft cherry filling. After cooling completely, a glaze made from powdered sugar and milk with vanilla and almond extracts is drizzled on the surface, adding a glossy, sweet touch.
These bars offer a balanced berry sweetness complemented by the warmth of almond and vanilla flavors in the dough and glaze. They can be cut into squares and served as a dessert or sweet snack. The texture is moist but firm enough to hold together well.
Using an offset spatula can ease spreading of the dough and filling layers. Although the recipe calls for a 15 by 10-inch pan, a 9 by 13-inch pan may be used but will yield thicker bars needing longer baking. Allowing the glaze to harden before cutting ensures clean slices and prevents sticking.
Ingredients
For the bars
- 1 cup butter softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 egg
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 cans cherry pie filling
- cooking spray
For the glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 10" x 15" jelly roll pan with cooking spray.
- Place the butter, sugar and salt in the bowl of a mixer. Beat until fluffy, 2-3 minutes.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
- With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour. Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts.
- Spread 2/3 of the dough evenly over the bottom of the pan.
- Spread the pie filling over the dough.
- Place teaspoon sized dollops of dough all over the surface of the pie filling.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in the pan.
- To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, extracts and milk. Add more milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, if you prefer a thinner glaze.
- Drizzle the glaze over the bars. Let the glaze harden, then cut into squares and serve.
Notes
- Use an offset spatula to spread the dough and cherry filling evenly and easily.
- If using a 9" x 13" pan instead of 10" x 15", expect thicker bars that require longer baking time.
- Let the glaze harden fully before cutting to achieve clean pieces without sticking.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 24Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 277 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 277kcal | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 47g | 16% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 47mg | 16% |
| Sodium | 184mg | 8% |
| Potassium | 82mg | 2% |
| Sugar | 21g | 42% |
| Vitamin A | 375IU | 8% |
| Vitamin C | 1.8mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 16mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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