Description
Delight in these festive Christmas Cherry Bars featuring a buttery, tender crust layered with sweet cherry pie filling and finished with a smooth almond-glazed drizzle. Perfect for holiday gatherings or anytime you crave a nostalgic sweet treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
Filling
- 2 cans (21 oz each) cherry pie filling
Glaze
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 2–3 tablespoons whole milk
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 15×10-inch sheet pan with baking spray to ensure the bars don’t stick and bake evenly.
- Cream Butter, Sugar, and Salt: In a large bowl, combine the softened butter, sugar, and salt. Beat together until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a creamy base for the dough.
- Add Eggs and Extracts: Incorporate the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to ensure even mixing. Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts for added flavor.
- Mix in Flour to Form Dough: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the butter mixture, mixing until a cohesive dough forms without overworking.
- Press Dough into Pan: Take 3 cups of the dough and press it evenly into the bottom of the prepared sheet pan, forming the crust layer.
- Spread Cherry Filling: Evenly spread both cans of cherry pie filling over the dough layer, covering the surface completely with the sweet cherries.
- Add Remaining Dough on Top: Drop spoonfuls of the remaining dough over the cherry filling, distributing them as evenly as possible to create a crumbly topping.
- Bake the Bars: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the top dough turns golden brown. Remove from oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan to set properly.
- Prepare the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract, and milk until smooth and pourable.
- Glaze and Serve: Drizzle the glaze evenly over the cooled bars. Allow the glaze to set before cutting into squares and serving your delicious Christmas Cherry Bars.
Notes
- Ensure eggs are at room temperature for better incorporation and dough consistency.
- Don’t overmix the flour to keep the dough tender.
- Allow bars to cool completely before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting.
- For a thicker glaze, use less milk; for a thinner glaze, add more milk gradually.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
