Description
These Christmas Cherry Bars are a festive and delightful treat perfect for holiday gatherings. A buttery, tender crust layered with sweet cherry pie filling and topped with a light vanilla glaze creates a perfect balance of flavors and textures. Easy to make and sure to please, these bars bring a cheerful twist to your holiday dessert table.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Bars
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
For the Optional Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan well to prevent the bars from sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This creates a smooth base and helps incorporate air for a tender texture. Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Blend in the vanilla extract for added flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add this flour mixture to the butter mixture, stirring until everything is fully incorporated into a thick batter.
- Assemble Bars: Spread about 3 cups of the batter evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form a base layer. Carefully spoon the cherry pie filling evenly over the batter. Drop small clumps of the remaining batter over the cherry layer, creating a marbled effect.
- Bake the Bars: Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, until the top is golden brown. To check for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center – it should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached.
- Cool Completely: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack. This cooling step is crucial for the bars to set properly before glazing.
- Prepare and Add Glaze: In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract to make a smooth glaze. Drizzle this glaze evenly over the cooled bars for a sweet finishing touch.
- Set and Serve: Let the glaze set and firm up for a few minutes. Then slice into 24 bars and enjoy these festive treats!
Notes
- For a thicker cherry layer, feel free to add more cherry pie filling to taste.
- The glaze is optional but adds a lovely sweetness and visual appeal to the bars.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- To make the bars easier to cut, chill them briefly before slicing after glazing.
