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Cherry Pie Filling Bars with Almond Glaze Recipe

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4.1 from 83 reviews

These Cherry Bars feature a buttery, tender crust layered with sweet cherry pie filling and topped with a lightly golden crumble and a smooth almond glaze. Perfect for dessert or snacks, these bars combine classic flavors in a simple, easy-to-make treat that yields 16 servings.

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 16 bars

Ingredients

Crust and Dough

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, barely softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt or table salt

Filling

  • 21 ounces cherry pie filling (1 can)

Glaze

  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (or vanilla extract)
  • 1 tablespoon milk (or cream)

Instructions

  1. Mix the dough: In a large bowl, beat 1 cup of barely softened unsalted butter with 3/4 cup granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, mixing until smooth. Gradually add 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, and 3/4 teaspoon salt, stirring until combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl to ensure thorough mixing.
  2. Prepare the pan and dough base: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal. Press about two-thirds of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Using parchment paper to press the dough helps prevent sticking and creates an even base. For a crisper crust, optionally bake this base for 5-10 minutes before adding the filling.
  3. Add the cherry filling: Spoon the entire 21-ounce can of cherry pie filling evenly over the pressed dough base, spreading it out carefully.
  4. Top with remaining dough: Drop the remaining one-third of the dough by small spoonfuls evenly over the cherry filling layer, leaving some space between the spoonfuls to allow for even baking and a rustic topping appearance.
  5. Bake the bars: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the top dough pieces have turned lightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan.
  6. Prepare the glaze: While the bars cool, whisk together 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (or vanilla extract), and 1 tablespoon milk or cream until smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding more milk or powdered sugar as necessary to get a drizzle-able glaze.
  7. Glaze and set: Drizzle the glaze evenly over the cooled bars. Place the pan in the refrigerator and chill for about 10 minutes to let the glaze set properly.
  8. Serve: Once the glaze has set, use the parchment paper to lift the bars from the pan, slice into 16 even bars, and serve. These bars are perfect for sharing and storing in an airtight container for several days.

Notes

  • For a crisper crust, pre-bake the bottom dough layer before adding the cherry filling.
  • You can substitute almond extract in the glaze with vanilla extract if preferred.
  • Using parchment paper makes removing the bars from the pan easier and helps with clean slicing.
  • Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Glaze consistency can be adjusted by adding small amounts of milk or powdered sugar.
  • Author: ELLA
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://ellarecipe.com/cherry-pie-filling-bars-with-almond-glaze-recipe/