Christmas Cherry Bars

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Christmas Cherry Bars are a festive and delicious dessert that brings the joy of the holiday season to your table. With a buttery, sweet dough base topped with a vibrant cherry filling and finished with a sweet glaze, these bars are perfect for holiday gatherings, potlucks, or as a special treat for your family. The combination of flavors and textures makes each bite a delightful experience.

Ingredients

(Tip: You'll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

For the Bars:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 2 cups sugar

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 4 large eggs

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• ¼ teaspoon almond extract

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 cans (21 oz each) cherry pie filling

For the Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

• ½ teaspoon almond extract

• 2-3 tablespoon milk

Directions

1. Preparation:

   • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

   • Grease a 15x10x1-inch baking pan.

2. Making the Dough:

   • In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy.

   • Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

   • Mix in vanilla and almond extracts.

   • Gradually add the flour to the mixture, blending until well combined.

3. Assembling:

   • Spread 3 cups of the dough evenly in the prepared pan.

   • Layer with the cherry pie filling.

   • Drop the remaining dough in teaspoonfuls over the filling.

4. Baking:

   • Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.

   • Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.

5. Preparing the Glaze:

   • In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, vanilla and almond extracts, and milk to reach desired consistency.

   • Drizzle the glaze over the cooled bars.

6. Serving:

   • Cut into slices and serve.

Servings and Timing

• Servings: Approximately 24 bars

• Prep Time: 15 minutes

• Cook Time: 30-35 minutes

• Total Time: 45-50 minutes

Variations

• Fruit Fillings: Substitute the cherry pie filling with other fruit pie fillings such as peach, strawberry, apple, or blueberry for a different flavor profile.

• Extracts: Enhance the flavor by adding a complementary extract like lemon or vanilla, especially if using a different fruit filling.

• Toppings: Before baking, sprinkle coarse sugar on top for added crunch and sparkle.

Storage/Reheating

• Short-Term Storage: Keep baked bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

• Long-Term Storage: Wrap the bars tightly in plastic wrap or foil and freeze for longer-term storage. Allow to thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

• Reheating: To enjoy warm, reheat individual slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.

FAQs

1. Can I use a different size pan?

Yes, you can use a standard baking sheet, but a 15x10x1-inch jelly roll pan is ideal for this recipe as it allows for even spreading of the dough and filling.

2. How can I achieve clean slices?

Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting. Use a sharp knife sprayed with nonstick spray and wipe the blade between each cut for clean slices.

3. Can I use homemade cherry pie filling?

Absolutely! You can use homemade cherry pie filling, just ensure it has the same consistency and volume as canned filling.

4. Is it necessary to use both vanilla and almond extracts?

Using both extracts enhances the flavor, but you can adjust the amounts or omit one if preferred.

5. Can I reduce the sugar in this recipe?

Reducing sugar may affect the texture and flavor. If you choose to reduce sugar, consider using sugar substitutes like Splenda or stevia in a 1:1 ratio.

6. Can I add nuts to the bars?

Yes, you can add chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to the dough for added texture and flavor.

7. How do I prevent the glaze from being too runny?

Adjust the amount of milk in the glaze to achieve your desired consistency. Start with 2 tablespoons and add more if needed.

8. Can I make these bars ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the bars a day in advance. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature or refrigerate them.

9. Are these bars suitable for freezing?

Yes, these bars freeze well. Wrap them tightly and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

10. Can I use a different fruit filling?

Yes, you can substitute the cherry pie filling with other fruit pie fillings like peach, strawberry, or blueberry for a different flavor.

Conclusion

Christmas Cherry Bars are a delightful addition to your holiday dessert repertoire. Their festive appearance and delicious taste make them a crowd-pleaser at any gathering. Whether you stick to the classic cherry filling or experiment with other fruits, these bars are sure to bring joy to your holiday celebrations.

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Christmas Cherry Bars are a festive holiday dessert featuring a buttery sweet dough base topped with vibrant cherry pie filling and finished with a sweet vanilla-almond glaze. Perfect for gatherings and special treats.

• Author: Janet
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
• Total Time: 45-50 minutes
• Yield: Approximately 24 bars
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

2 cups sugar

1 tsp salt

4 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

¼ tsp almond extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 cans (21 oz each) cherry pie filling

For the Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

½ tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp almond extract

2-3 tablespoon milk

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Grease a 15x10x1-inch baking pan.
3. In a large bowl, cream together softened butter, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
5. Mix in vanilla and almond extracts.
6. Gradually add flour, blending until well combined.
7. Spread 3 cups of dough evenly in the prepared pan.
8. Layer with cherry pie filling.
9. Drop remaining dough in teaspoonfuls over the filling.
10. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
11. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
12. In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, vanilla, almond extracts, and milk to desired glaze consistency.
13. Drizzle glaze over cooled bars.
14. Cut into slices and serve.

Notes

• You can substitute cherry pie filling with peach, strawberry, apple, or blueberry for different flavors.
• Add lemon or vanilla extract to enhance flavor with other fruit fillings.
• Sprinkle coarse sugar on top before baking for crunch and sparkle.
• Store bars in airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.
• Freeze tightly wrapped bars for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in fridge before serving.
• Reheat slices in microwave 10-15 seconds for warm bars.
• Use sharp knife sprayed with nonstick spray for clean slicing.
• Add chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to dough if desired.
• Adjust milk in glaze to avoid runniness, start with 2 tbsp.
• You can prepare bars a day in advance; store covered at room temp or refrigerated.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 bar
• Calories: 230
• Sugar: 20g
• Sodium: 150mg
• Fat: 10g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 32g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 2g
• Cholesterol: 55mg