Cherry Bars

Name: Cherry Bars
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 5 dozen.
Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened; 2 cups sugar; 1 teaspoon salt; 4 large eggs, room temperature; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/4 teaspoon almond extract; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 2 cans (21 ounces each) cherry pie filling; GLAZE:; 1 cup confectioners' sugar; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/2 teaspoon almond extract; 2 to 3 tablespoons 2% milk

119 reviews

Test Kitchen Approved

Total Time

Prep: 20 min. Bake: 35 min. + cooling

Makes

5 dozen

Whip up a pan of these festive bars in just 20 minutes with staple ingredients and cherry pie filling. Between the easy preparation and the pretty colors, they're destined to become a holiday classic. —Jane Kamp, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cans (21 ounces each) cherry pie filling
GLAZE:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 to 3 tablespoons 2% milk

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar and salt until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extracts. Gradually add flour.
Spread 3 cups dough into a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Spread with pie filling. Drop remaining dough by teaspoonfuls over filling. Bake 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
In a small bowl, mix confectioners' sugar, extracts and enough milk to reach desired consistency; drizzle over top.

Test Kitchen Tips

Some ovens run cooler than others so you may need to adjust the bake time as needed.

Use any pie filling you like. Blueberry, apricot and raspberry all work well.

For a Black Forest variation, add a handful of mini chocolate chips.

Nutrition Facts

1 bar: 112 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 21mg cholesterol, 72mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.

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