Description
Delight in these festive Christmas Cherry Bars featuring a buttery, tender base layered with luscious cherry pie filling and a hint of almond extract, perfect for holiday gatherings or a sweet treat any time of year.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Batter
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Filling and Topping
- 1 (21-ounce) can cherry pie filling
- Powdered sugar for dusting or glaze (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the bars.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for your bars.
- Add Eggs and Extracts: Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then stir in the vanilla extract and almond extract if you choose to use it, which adds a delightful cherry-enhancing flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
- Mix Dry Ingredients into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet butter mixture, mixing until just combined to avoid overworking the batter for tender bars.
- Layer the Batter and Cherry Filling: Spread about two-thirds of the batter evenly in the prepared baking pan. Spoon the cherry pie filling over this layer in a smooth, even layer. Then drop the remaining batter in small spoonfuls on top of the cherry layer, allowing some of the cherry filling to peek through.
- Bake the Bars: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating the bars are fully baked.
- Cool and Finish: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, dust them with powdered sugar or drizzle with a simple glaze for an elegant finishing touch before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Adding almond extract enhances the cherry flavor for a more festive taste.
- These bars can be prepared a day in advance and stored covered at room temperature without losing freshness.
