Easy Cherry Pie Bars

Prepare

1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
2. Lightly spray a 9x13" pan with cooking spray, then line the bottom and sides of the pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper, letting 2-3” overhang. Lightly spray the foil or paper with cooking spray as well.

Make crust

1. Add flour, granulated sugar and salt to food processor and pulse until combined. Add butter cubes and pulse until mixture is crumbly. Reserve 1 cup of crust mixture for later.
2. **This can also be done in a mixing bowl with a pastry cutter, or two forks/knives moved in a criss-cross motion.**
3. Add remaining 2 cups of the crust mixture to prepared pan and press into an even layer.
4. Bake until lightly browned, about 25-30 minutes.

Add filling

1. Spread cherry pie filling over baked crust. Combine reserved 1 cup crust mixture with the chopped pecans and sprinkle over the top of the cherry pie filling.

Bake

1. Bake 40-45 minutes.

Cool and glaze

1. Leaving the bars in the pan, cool completely on a wire rack.
2. Lifting the foil or parchment paper overhang, lift the bars out of the pan.
3. In a small mixing bowl, combine powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract. Whisk until completely smooth, then drizzle over bars.
4. Slice into 12 squares and serve.