These Cherry Pie Bars combine a buttery, tender crust with a sweet and tangy cherry pie filling, finished with a luscious vanilla-almond glaze. Perfect for dessert or a sweet snack, these bars offer the delightful flavors of cherry pie in a convenient, easy-to-cut form.
Total Time:55 minutes
Yield:12 servings
Ingredients
For the Bars:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp almond extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
2 cans (21 oz each) cherry pie filling
For the Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp almond extract
2 tbsp milk
Instructions
Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly spray a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with non-stick spray to prepare for baking.
Cream Butter & Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter and sugar and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the bars.
Add Eggs: Beat in the eggs one at a time to the creamed mixture, then stir in the vanilla and almond extracts until well combined for enhanced flavor.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the butter mixture, mixing until fully incorporated and a dough forms.
Assemble Bars: Spread 3 cups of the batter evenly across the bottom of the prepared pan. Carefully spread the cherry pie filling over the batter layer. Then, drop spoonfuls of the remaining batter unevenly over the cherry filling to create a rustic top.
Bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the batter comes out clean. If using a 9x13-inch pan, add a few extra minutes to the baking time to ensure doneness.
Cool: Remove the bars from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, which helps the layers set and makes glazing easier.
Prepare Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract, and milk until smooth and pourable for a delicate finishing touch.
Drizzle & Serve: Once the bars have cooled, drizzle the glaze evenly over the top. Allow the glaze to set before cutting the bars into squares and serving.
Notes
For easier slicing, chill the bars in the refrigerator for 30 minutes after glazing to firm up the glaze.
If you prefer a less sweet treat, reduce the sugar in the batter to 1 ½ cups.
Use fresh or frozen cherries mixed with a thickener as a homemade alternative to canned cherry pie filling.
Almond extract is potent; be sure to measure carefully to avoid overpowering the flavor.
You can substitute milk with almond milk or another milk alternative for a dairy-free glaze.
