Delicious Cherry Pie Bars

These irresistible bars feature a soft, buttery, cake-like crust, a sweet and tangy cherry pie filling, and a delicious golden topping. They are easy to prepare, beautiful to serve, and perfect for birthdays, family gatherings, holiday celebrations, potlucks, and weekend treats.

Equipment

• 9 × 13-inch baking pan
• Large mixing bowl
• Separate bowl
• Spatula
• Small bowl
• Whisk
• Toothpick

Ingredients

• 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1½ cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 cans (21 ounces each) cherry pie filling
• ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9 × 13-inch baking pan with butter or nonstick cooking spray, or line it with parchment paper leaving overhang on the sides.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light, creamy, and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract and almond extract.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Mix on low speed until a soft, thick batter forms, avoiding overmixing.
4. Spread approximately two-thirds of the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the surface to reach the corners.
5. In another bowl, gently stir the cherry pie filling with the optional almond extract and lemon juice. Spread the cherry filling evenly over the bottom batter layer, leaving a small border around the edges if desired.
6. Drop spoonfuls of the remaining batter over the cherry filling.
7. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 35–45 minutes, until the top is lightly golden and the edges look set. Insert a toothpick into a cake-like portion to check for doneness; it should come out without wet batter.
8. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before adding the glaze.
9. In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Whisk until smooth and pourable. Adjust consistency with more milk or powdered sugar if needed.
10. Drizzle the glaze over the completely cooled cherry bars. Allow the glaze to set for approximately 15–20 minutes.
11. Lift the bars from the pan using the parchment paper, then cut into squares or rectangles. Serve and enjoy.

Notes

The secret to making perfect cherry pie bars is balancing the buttery batter with the sweet fruit filling. Using ready-made cherry pie filling saves preparation time while providing plenty of fruity flavor. Adding spoonfuls of batter over the cherries creates an attractive homemade appearance.