Easy Cherry Pie Bars (Printable)

Tender, buttery bars with sweet cherry filling and vanilla glaze ready in 50 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Dough

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
03 - 4 large eggs
04 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
05 - 1/2 tsp almond extract
06 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
07 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ Filling

08 - 1 (21 oz) can cherry pie filling

→ Glaze

09 - 1 cup powdered sugar
10 - 2–3 tbsp milk
11 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan or line with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, cream softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
03 - Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla and almond extracts. Mix well.
04 - Whisk flour and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually add to wet mixture, mixing just until combined.
05 - Spread 2/3 of dough evenly into prepared pan, smoothing top.
06 - Spoon cherry pie filling evenly over dough layer.
07 - Drop small spoonfuls of remaining dough over cherry filling, leaving gaps for cherries to peek through.
08 - Bake for 30–35 minutes until top is lightly golden and edges are set.
09 - Cool completely on wire rack before glazing.
10 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over cooled bars.
11 - Allow glaze to set before slicing into bars.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The dough comes together in minutes without any complicated techniques or special equipment
  • That cherry glaze drip makes these look bakery fancy but they're actually foolproof
02 -
  • Resist the urge to cut these while they're still warm or you'll end up with cherry pie bar soup
  • If your dough feels too sticky to work with, chill it for 15 minutes and it becomes much more cooperative
03 -
  • Run your knife under hot water and wipe it dry between cuts for perfectly clean slices
  • Add a pinch of cinnamon to the glaze for a subtle warmth that pairs beautifully with cherries

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