Christmas Cherry Bars
Delightful dessert with a buttery crust, luscious cherry pie filling, and sweet almond glaze, perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Ingredients for the Crust
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened Use high-quality butter for better flavor.
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Filling and Glaze Ingredients
- 1 can cherry pie filling (about 21 ounces) Can substitute with fresh cherries cooked down with sugar and cornstarch.
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon almond extract Can substitute with either vanilla or lemon extract.
- 1-2 tablespoons milk Adjust for icing consistency.
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan with butter or cooking spray.
- In a mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
- Gradually add flour and salt to the butter mixture, mixing until a cohesive dough forms.
- Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
- Spread the cherry pie filling evenly over the crust.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until edges are golden brown.
- While baking, mix powdered sugar, almond extract, and milk in a separate bowl to make the glaze.
- Once baked, allow bars to cool slightly before drizzling the glaze over the top.
- Once completely cooled, cut into squares and serve.
Notes
Cool bars completely before storing. For longer storage, freeze uncut bars wrapped tightly.