I love whipping a tray of these Christmas bars up! Everyone was thrilled by the outcome!.
Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 (21 oz) can cherry pie filling
Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and almond extracts.
Combine the flour and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well.
Spread 3 cups of batter into the prepared pan. Spread the cherry pie filling over the batter.
Drop the remaining batter by teaspoonfuls over the filling.
Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
Cool on a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar before serving, if desired
Christmas Cherry Bars
These festive Christmas Cherry Bars are a delightful holiday treat! Featuring a buttery shortbread crust, a sweet cherry filling, and a crumbly topping, they’re easy to make and perfect for parties, cookie exchanges, or as a gift. Bright red cherries add a pop of color to your holiday dessert spread.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 24 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert, Holiday Treats
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
-
Crust and Topping:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
-
Cherry Filling:
- 1 (21 oz) can cherry pie filling
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Instructions
-
Prepare the Oven and Pan:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal. -
Make the Crust and Topping:
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and salt until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla extract and eggs, one at a time, until well combined. -
Add Dry Ingredients:
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. -
Assemble the Bars:
Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the dough for the topping. Spread the remaining dough evenly into the prepared baking pan to form the crust. Spread the cherry pie filling over the crust, ensuring an even layer. Add the almond extract to the cherries if desired. Crumble the reserved dough over the cherry layer. -
Bake the Bars:
Bake in the preheated oven for 40–45 minutes, or until the topping is lightly golden. -
Cool and Slice:
Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares or rectangles.
Notes
- For a festive touch, drizzle the cooled bars with a simple powdered sugar glaze.
- You can substitute cherry pie filling with raspberry, blueberry, or apple for variety.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 2 months.