→ LET'S MAKE THEM! ♥
1. PREHEAT THE OVEN
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang for easy removal.
2. CREAM THE BUTTER AND SUGAR
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together for approximately 2–3 minutes, until light and fluffy.
3. ADD THE EGGS AND FLAVORING
Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Add the vanilla extract and optional almond extract.
Mix until smooth and creamy.
4. COMBINE THE DRY INGREDIENTS
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing just until a thick, soft batter forms.
5. CREATE THE BUTTERY BASE
Spread approximately two-thirds of the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish.
Use a spatula to smooth the surface.
6. ADD THE CHERRY FILLING
Spoon the cherry pie filling evenly over the batter, gently spreading it toward the edges.
The bright red cherries create a beautiful festive layer.
7. ADD THE TOPPING
Drop small spoonfuls of the remaining batter over the cherry filling.
Leave some cherries visible between the dollops for a lovely homemade appearance.
8. BAKE UNTIL GOLDEN
Bake for approximately 40–50 minutes, until the top is lightly golden and the exposed cake portions are fully baked.
A toothpick inserted into a cake portion should come out without wet batter.
9. COOL COMPLETELY
Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the baking dish.
This helps the cherry filling set and makes slicing easier.
10. PREPARE THE VANILLA GLAZE
In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
Drizzle the glaze over the cooled bars.
11. SLICE AND SERVE
Once the glaze has set, cut into squares or rectangles.
Arrange on a festive serving platter and enjoy!
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
✧ LITTLE SECRETS FOR PERFECT CHERRY BARS
♥ Use softened butter. It creates a tender, rich texture.
♥ Don't overmix the batter. Gentle mixing helps keep the bars soft.
♥ Try almond extract. A little almond flavor pairs beautifully with cherries.
♥ Let them cool before slicing. This helps the bars hold their shape.
♥ Glaze only when cool. Otherwise, the glaze will melt into the bars.
♥ Use parchment paper. It makes removing and cutting the bars much easier.
❀ FESTIVE VARIATIONS TO TRY
✓ Cherry Almond Bars: Add ¼ cup sliced almonds over the top before baking.
✓ Cherry Chocolate Bars: Sprinkle ½ cup mini chocolate chips over the cherry filling.
✓ Cherry Cream Cheese Bars: Add small spoonfuls of sweetened cream cheese over the filling before baking.
✓ Extra Festive Bars: Sprinkle a little red and green decorating sugar over the glaze once the bars have cooled.
♥ MAKE-AHEAD & STORAGE TIPS
Make Ahead: Bake the bars a day before serving. Allow them to cool completely, then glaze and slice when ready.
Room Temperature: Store covered in a cool place for up to 1 day.
Refrigerator: Keep in an airtight container for up to 4–5 days.
Freezer: Freeze unglazed bars for up to 2–3 months for best quality. Thaw in the refrigerator and add the glaze before serving.
Serving Tip: Let refrigerated bars sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving for a softer texture.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
✦ TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS!
Do you love cherry desserts during the holidays, or are you more of an apple and cinnamon dessert fan? ♥
Save these beautiful Christmas Cherry Dessert Bars for your holiday baking collection, and share them with someone who loves homemade festive treats!
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Thank you for spending a little time with us today. ❤️
✍️ Written with care by BASSMA EL-HAZIBI
