Cherry Pie Bars: A Sweet and Buttery Party Dessert
Cherry pie bars put the filling of a cherry pie on a buttery, cookie-like base, baked in a 9×13 pan and cut into squares that are far easier to serve at a party than slices of pie. A single dough does double duty: most of it becomes the crust, and the rest is dropped over the filling in spoonfuls so the cherries peek through.
The dough starts with butter and sugar creamed until light and fluffy, then four eggs beaten in one at a time, plus vanilla and a little almond extract. I wouldn’t skip the almond; a quarter teaspoon makes the filling taste more like cherry without announcing itself. Once the flour and salt go in, the dough turns thick and a bit sticky, and two-thirds of it is pressed evenly into the greased pan.
A can of cherry pie filling is spread over the crust, and the remaining dough goes on in small spoonfuls that spread into a golden, patchy top as they bake. Once that top is golden brown, the bars come out, and they cut far more neatly when cool.
PrintCherry Pie Bars
A buttery vanilla and almond dough pressed into a pan, spread with cherry pie filling and topped with spoonfuls of more dough, then baked until golden.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts.
- Combine the flour and salt, then gradually add to the creamed mixture. Mix until a dough forms.
- Press two-thirds of the dough into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly to form the crust.
- Spread the cherry pie filling over the crust layer, ensuring it’s evenly distributed.
- Drop small spoonfuls of the remaining dough over the cherry filling.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Allow to cool before cutting into bars.
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