Description
Delight in these Cherry Pie Bars featuring a buttery crust layered with luscious cherry pie filling, finished with a smooth vanilla-almond glaze. Perfect for a dessert or snack, these bars combine classic cherry pie flavors in a convenient, easy-to-cut form.
Ingredients
Scale
Bars
- 1 cup softened unsalted butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 (21-ounce) cans cherry pie filling
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan with pan spray and set it aside to get ready for the batter.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup of softened unsalted butter and 2 cups of granulated sugar until smooth and fluffy. This will create a rich base for the bars.
- Add eggs and extracts: Beat in 4 large eggs one at a time, ensuring they are fully incorporated. Then add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and ¼ teaspoon almond extract, mixing well for flavor.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 cups all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon salt. Gradually add this flour mixture to the creamed ingredients and mix until just combined to form the batter.
- Layer batter and filling: Spread about 3 cups of the batter evenly on the bottom of the prepared pan. Next, evenly spread the 2 (21-ounce) cans of cherry pie filling over the batter. Using the remaining batter, drop dollops evenly over the filling to partially cover it.
- Bake the bars: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the top turns lightly golden brown. If using a larger 15 x 10-inch pan, bake for about 30 minutes instead.
- Cool the bars: Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan to set properly before glazing.
- Prepare and apply glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together 1 cup powdered sugar, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon almond extract, and 2 tablespoons milk until smooth. Drizzle this glaze evenly over the cooled bars.
- Serve: Once glazed, cut the bars into 24 pieces and serve as a delightful sweet treat.
Notes
- Use softened butter at room temperature for easier creaming with sugar.
- Cherry pie filling can be substituted with other fruit fillings like blueberry or apple for variation.
- If pan size differs, adjust baking time accordingly and check doneness with a toothpick.
- Allow bars to cool fully before glazing to prevent glaze from melting into the bars.
- Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
