“I’ve been whipping this up for years, and everyone goes absolutely crazy for it every single time…”
These Cherry Pie Bars take classic cherry pie and turn it into an easy, handheld dessert. A rich, buttery, cake-like crust holds a sweet cherry filling and is finished with a silky almond glaze.
Ingredients
Crust:
- Butter, softened – 1 cup
- Sugar – 2 cups
- Eggs – 4
- Vanilla extract – 1 tsp
- Almond extract – 1/4 tsp
- All-purpose flour – 3 cups
- Salt – 1 tsp
Filling:
- Cherry pie filling – 2 cans (21 oz each)
Glaze:
- Powdered sugar – 1 cup
- Vanilla extract – 1/2 tsp
- Almond extract – 1/2 tsp
- Milk – 2 tbsp
Instructions
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 15x10x1-inch baking pan (or spray with non-stick spray).
- Cream Butter & Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Eggs & Extracts: Mix in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and almond extracts.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually fold into the butter mixture until just combined.
- Assemble Bars: Spread 3 cups of batter evenly in the prepared pan. Layer the cherry pie filling over the crust, then drop spoonfuls of the remaining batter on top.
- Bake: Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (If using a 9×13-inch pan, baking time may be slightly longer.)
- Cool: Allow the bars to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Prepare Glaze: Whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla, almond extract, and milk until smooth.
- Drizzle & Serve: Once cooled, drizzle the glaze over the bars. Let it set, then cut into squares and enjoy!
