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Christmas Cherry Bars Recipe

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4.8 from 73 reviews

Christmas Cherry Bars are a festive holiday treat featuring a buttery base layered with sweet cherry pie filling and topped with a delicate vanilla glaze. These easy-to-make bars combine nostalgic cherry pie flavors with the convenience of a grab-and-go dessert, perfect for Christmas gatherings or cozy winter celebrations.

Ingredients

Scale

Batter

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Cherry Layer

  • 1 (21-ounce) can cherry pie filling

Glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch pan or line it with parchment to prevent sticking.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  3. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, mixing well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract.
  4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture until just combined.
  5. Prepare Base Layer: Scoop out about 1 cup of the batter and set aside. Press the remaining batter evenly into the prepared pan to form a solid base crust.
  6. Add Cherry Filling: Spread the cherry pie filling evenly over the crust. It’s okay if some spots are uneven, as this adds to the rustic charm.
  7. Top with Reserved Batter: Drop spoonfuls of the reserved batter over the cherry layer, allowing peaks and valleys to naturally form.
  8. Bake: Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the edges are light golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs, not wet batter. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes.
  9. Make the Glaze: Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the warm bars using a back-and-forth motion.
  10. Set and Slice: Allow the glaze to set for about 10 minutes before slicing into bars. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • Try adding a sprinkle of almond extract to the batter for an extra touch of holiday flavor.
  • If you want to make these bars less sweet, reduce sugar to 1½ cups, but be cautious as too little sugar may affect texture.
  • For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and add a couple extra minutes to the baking time.
  • You can swap cherry pie filling with other pie fillings like blueberry or raspberry for variation.
  • Bars can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days in an airtight container or refrigerated for up to one week.
  • Freeze bars for up to three months between layers of parchment paper. Thaw overnight in the fridge and warm at 300°F for 5–7 minutes before serving.

Keywords: baked goods, Cherry Bars, Christmas Treat, holiday dessert, cherry pie, festive dessert

Find it online: https://biteandenjoy.com/christmas-cherry-bars-recipe/