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Creamy Cherry and Lemon Bars

A creamy bar that's bursting with cherries and cherry flavor, with subtle notes of fragrant lemon. They're dense and firm, and have lots of texture from the cherries. Extremely easy and fast to make, the batter comes together in less than 5 minutes and no mixer is required. A small-batch recipe, making just 8 wedges.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 8
Calories: 230 kcal
Course: Baked Goods
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter half of one stick, melted
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ heaping cup sweetened condensed milk half of one standard can
  • ½ cup lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon lemon extract optional and to taste (I didn't use it)
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • ¼ teaspoon salt optional and to taste
  • 1 cup Maraschino cherries roughly chopped and patted dry
  • 2 to 4 tablespoons white chocolate chips melted for drizzling; optional but recommended

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350F, line an 8-by-8-inch pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside. Add butter to a large microwave-safe bowl and heat on high power to melt, about 1 minute. Wait for butter to cool for a minute or two before adding the egg (so you don't scramble it). Add the sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice, vanilla extract, optional lemon extract, and whisk until smooth. Add the flour, lemon zest, optional salt, and stir to incorporate. Gently fold in the cherries. Transfer batter to prepared pan and bake for 19 to 23 minutes, or until center is just set; don't overbake or it will turn rubbery. Allow bars to cool in pan for at least 15 minutes before removing. Optionally, drizzle with melted white chocolate.
  2. While the bars cook, melt the white chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl in 15-second increments in the microwave, stopping after each burst to stir. Heat in bursts until chocolate can be stirred smooth. Note that white chocolate scorches easily and so don't overcook. Some people find it's easier to get it to melt smoothly if they heat it on 50% power. Drizzle bars with melted white chocolate, wait a few minutes until it's set, before slicing and serving. Bars will keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container at room temperature, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 Calories 230kcal (12%) Carbohydrates 32g (11%) Protein 4g (8%) Fat 10g (15%) Saturated Fat 6g (30%) Polyunsaturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 46mg (15%) Sodium 110mg (5%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 22g (44%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 230

% Daily Value*

Serving 1
Calories 230kcal 12%
Carbohydrates 32g 11%
Protein 4g 8%
Fat 10g 15%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g 18%
Cholesterol 46mg 15%
Sodium 110mg 5%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 22g 44%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.