Description
Christmas Cherry Bars are buttery dessert squares filled with sweet cherry pie filling and topped with powdered sugar. They’re festive, flavorful, and perfect for holiday gatherings or cookie trays.
Ingredients
Units
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- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling or 2 cups pitted sweet cherries
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in vanilla and almond extracts.
- In another bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Gradually add to the wet mixture until combined.
- Spread two-thirds of the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
- Spoon cherry pie filling evenly over the batter.
- Drop spoonfuls of remaining batter over the cherries—it’s fine if some cherry shows through.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes or until golden and the center is set.
- Cool completely in the pan. Dust with powdered sugar and cut into squares.
Notes
- Use almond extract for a flavor boost—it pairs beautifully with cherries.
- Let bars cool completely before slicing for clean cuts.
- Store in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
- Optional: add shredded coconut, nuts, or chocolate chips for variation.
- Use parchment paper for easy lifting and neat presentation.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 45mg