Christmas Cherry Bars

Bring the holiday spirit to your table with these Christmas Cherry Bars. Buttery, soft, and topped with vibrant cherry filling, these bars are as beautiful as they are delicious. Perfect for holiday gatherings, cookie exchanges, or as a sweet treat with your favorite cup of coffee, these bars are easy to make and guaranteed to spread cheer.

Christmas isn’t complete in our home without a batch of Christmas Cherry Bars. This recipe started as my grandmother’s tradition, and now it’s something my daughter and I bake together every year. The red cherry filling and festive drizzle of glaze make these bars the highlight of our dessert table. My husband loves sneaking a piece before they’re fully cooled, and I can’t blame him—they’re simply irresistible!

Why You’ll Love Christmas Cherry Bars

•Festive and Beautiful: Bright red cherries make these bars perfect for holiday celebrations.

•Easy to Make: Simple ingredients and straightforward steps.

•Crowd-Pleasing: A hit with both kids and adults.

•Versatile: Great as a dessert, snack, or gift for loved ones.

Ingredients Notes For Christmas Cherry Bars

•Butter: Use softened unsalted butter for a rich, tender base.

•Sugar: Granulated sugar adds sweetness to the dough.

•Eggs: Bind the dough and add structure.

•Flour: All-purpose flour works perfectly.

•Cherry Pie Filling: The star of the show, adding sweetness and a pop of color.

•Vanilla Extract: Adds depth to the dough’s flavor.

•Optional Glaze: Powdered sugar mixed with milk and vanilla for a festive finish.

Recipe Steps

1.Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.

2.Make Dough: In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla extract. Gradually add flour and a pinch of salt, mixing until combined.

3.Assemble Bars: Spread 2/3 of the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Spread the cherry pie filling over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges. Drop spoonfuls of the remaining dough over the cherry filling.

4.Bake: Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden. Allow to cool completely.

5.Add Glaze: Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract to create a glaze. Drizzle over the cooled bars.

6.Cut and Serve: Slice into bars and enjoy!

Storage Options

•Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

•Refrigerator: Keep in the fridge for up to a week.

•Freezer: Freeze individual bars for up to 3 months. Thaw before serving.

Variations & Substitutions

•Substitute cherry filling with other fruit fillings like raspberry or blueberry.

•Add chopped nuts or coconut flakes to the dough for texture.

•Use almond extract instead of vanilla for a different flavor profile.

Christmas Cherry Bars

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Course: Dessert

Kitchen: American, holiday

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 24 bars

Ingredients

 

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• ▢ For the Bars:
• ▢ 1 cup unsalted butter softened
• ▢ 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
• ▢ 4 large eggs
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 can 21 oz cherry pie filling
• ▢ For the Glaze:
• ▢ 1 cup powdered sugar
• ▢ 2 tablespoons milk adjust for consistency
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Instructions

• Prepare the Bars:
• Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
• Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy.
• Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
• Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
• Assemble the Layers: Spread two-thirds of the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. Spread the cherry pie filling over the batter. Drop spoonfuls of the remaining batter over the cherries, leaving some gaps for the filling to peek through.
• Bake:
• Bake the Bars: Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and set. Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the pan.
• Prepare the Glaze:
• Mix the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract until smooth. Add more milk if the glaze is too thick.
• Glaze and Serve:
• Drizzle the Glaze: Drizzle the glaze over the cooled bars. Allow the glaze to set for 10 minutes before slicing.