Here’s a festive and delicious Christmas Cherry Bars recipe — perfect for holiday gatherings or gifting!
🎄 Christmas Cherry Bars
Ingredients
For the crust:
-
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
-
1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
-
4 large eggs
-
1 tsp vanilla extract
-
½ tsp almond extract (optional, but adds a great holiday touch)
-
3 cups all-purpose flour
-
1 tsp baking powder
-
½ tsp salt
For the topping:
-
1 (21 oz) can cherry pie filling (you can also use 1½ cups homemade cherry pie filling)
-
½ tsp almond extract (optional)
For the glaze:
-
1 cup powdered sugar
-
2–3 tbsp milk or heavy cream
-
½ tsp vanilla or almond extract
🧑🍳 Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line with parchment paper.
-
Make the crust:
-
In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
-
Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
-
Mix in vanilla and almond extract.
-
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
-
Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix until just combined.
-
-
Assemble the bars:
-
Spread about ⅔ of the batter evenly in the prepared baking pan.
-
Stir almond extract into the cherry pie filling if using, then spoon it over the batter, spreading evenly.
-
Drop the remaining batter by spoonfuls over the cherry layer — it won’t cover it completely, and that’s okay.
-
-
Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
-
Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
-
Make the glaze:
-
In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk (start with 2 tbsp), and extract until smooth. Add more milk if needed for drizzling consistency.
-
Drizzle over cooled bars.
-
-
Cut into squares or bars, and serve or package as a festive treat.
✨ Tips
-
Add some holiday sprinkles or chopped nuts on top before baking for extra flair.
-
Can be made 1–2 days in advance and stored in an airtight container.