Easy Cherry Pie Bars (Printable)

Tender buttery bars with sweet cherry filling and vanilla glaze, ready in 50 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ For the Dough

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
03 - 4 large eggs
04 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
05 - 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
06 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
07 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ For the Filling

08 - 1 (21 oz) can cherry pie filling

→ For the Glaze

09 - 1 cup powdered sugar
10 - 2-3 tbsp milk
11 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

# How-To:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan or line with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
03 - Beat in eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Mix in vanilla and almond extracts.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour and salt until well blended.
05 - Gradually add flour mixture to wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Do not overmix.
06 - Press about two-thirds of the dough evenly into the prepared pan, creating a smooth bottom layer.
07 - Spread cherry pie filling evenly over the dough base.
08 - Drop small spoonfuls of remaining dough over the cherries, leaving gaps for filling to show through.
09 - Bake for 30-35 minutes until top is lightly golden and edges are set.
10 - Let bars cool completely in pan on a wire rack before glazing.
11 - Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and drizzling consistency.
12 - Drizzle glaze evenly over cooled bars. Allow glaze to set for 15-20 minutes before slicing into 16 bars.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They come together faster than a traditional pie but taste just as impressive
  • The buttery crust balances perfectly with the sweet tart cherries
  • You can make them ahead and they actually taste better the next day
02 -
  • The dough will be thick and that is exactly what you want for these bars
  • Let them cool completely before adding the glaze or it will melt right off
  • Room temperature ingredients prevent the dough from separating
03 -
  • Chill the dough for 15 minutes if it feels too sticky to work with
  • Use kitchen shears to snip any large cherry pieces for easier slicing

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