Here’s a classic Cherry Bars recipe—easy to make, full of cherry flavor, and perfect for sharing!
Cherry Bars Recipe
Servings: About 24 bars
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 35–40 minutes
Ingredients
For the Bars:
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp almond extract (optional, but adds great flavor)
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 (21 oz) can cherry pie filling
For the Glaze (optional but delicious):
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1–2 tbsp milk
• 1/4 tsp almond or vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
2. Make the batter:
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Stir in vanilla and almond extracts.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
3. Assemble:
Spread about 2/3 of the batter into the prepared pan.
Spoon cherry pie filling evenly over the batter.
Drop remaining batter by spoonfuls on top of the cherries (it won’t fully cover—this is okay!).
4. Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean from the cake parts.
5. Cool completely in the pan.
6. Make the glaze:
Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and extract until smooth. Drizzle over cooled bars.
7. Cut into squares and serve!
Want a homemade cherry filling version or tips for variations (like lemon glaze or chocolate drizzle)?