Cherry Pie Bars Recipe

Ingredients

For the crust and topping:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the cherry filling:

• 1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling
• 1 tbsp lemon juice (optional, for brightness)
• 1 tsp almond extract (optional, enhances the cherry flavor)

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
2. Prepare the Crust:
   • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
   • Add the softened butter, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix until the dough comes together. It will be crumbly.
3. Layer the Dough:
   • Press about two-thirds of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the crust.
   • Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven until lightly golden.
4. Make the Cherry Filling:
   • While the crust is baking, mix the cherry pie filling with lemon juice and almond extract in a bowl.
5. Assemble the Bars:
   • Once the crust is baked, remove it from the oven. Pour the cherry filling over the crust, spreading it evenly.
   • Crumble the remaining dough over the cherry filling to create a topping.
6. Bake:
   • Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 25–30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
7. Cool and Serve:
   • Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares.
   • Optionally, dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Enjoy!

These cherry pie bars are perfect for sharing at parties or special occasions. They’re easy to make and always a hit!