Of course! Cherry Bars are a classic, beloved dessert for a reason. They’re easy to make, feed a crowd, and that combination of buttery shortbread, sweet cherry filling, and simple glaze is irresistible.
Here are two fantastic versions: a classic one and an easier “dump cake” style one.
Version 1: Classic Cherry Bars with Shortbread Crust
This is the traditional method with a buttery crust and crumble topping.
Ingredients:
For the Crust & Topping:
· 1 cup (2 sticks / 226g) unsalted butter, softened
· 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
· 4 large eggs
· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
· ½ teaspoon almond extract (highly recommended for that classic flavor!)
· 3 cups (375g) all-purpose flour
· 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
· ½ teaspoon salt
For the Filling & Glaze:
· 2 (21 oz) cans cherry pie filling
· 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
· 2-3 tablespoons milk or lemon juice
· ½ teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
Instructions:
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 10×15-inch jelly roll pan (a standard half-sheet pan is 13×18, so adjust baking time down slightly if using a larger pan).
- Make the Dough: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then the vanilla and almond extracts.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Form Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. The dough will be thick and sticky.
- Assemble the Base: Using floured hands or a spatula, press about two-thirds of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Add Filling: Spread the cherry pie filling evenly over the dough base.
- Add Topping: Take the remaining third of the dough and crumble it evenly over the cherry layer. Don’t worry about covering it completely; gaps are good!
- Bake: Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
- Cool Completely: Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This is essential for clean cuts!
Make the Glaze & Finish:
· In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of milk/lemon juice, and extract. Add more liquid, one teaspoon at a time, until you reach a drizzling consistency.
· Drizzle the glaze over the completely cooled bars.
· Cut into squares and serve.
Version 2: Super Easy “Dump Cake” Style Cherry Bars
This version is even simpler, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture and no mixer required!
Ingredients:
· 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow or white cake mix
· 1 large egg, lightly beaten
· ½ cup (1 stick / 113g) unsalted butter, melted
· 2 (21 oz) cans cherry pie filling
· ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional, but great)
Instructions:
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- Make the Crust: In a medium bowl, combine the dry cake mix, beaten egg, and melted butter. Stir until a thick, crumbly dough forms.
- Assemble: Press about two-thirds of this dough mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form a crust.
- Add Filling: In a separate bowl, stir the almond extract into the cherry pie filling. Spread this mixture evenly over the crust.
- Add Topping: Crumble the remaining one-third of the dough mixture evenly over the cherry layer.
- Bake: Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is golden and the cherry filling is bubbly around the edges.
- Cool and Serve: Allow to cool completely before slicing into bars. No glaze is needed, but a dusting of powdered sugar is lovely!
Pro-Tips for Perfect Cherry Bars:
· Pan Size Matters: Using the right size pan ensures the bars are the proper thickness. A 10×15″ pan will give you thinner, more traditional bars, while a 9×13″ pan will yield thicker, cakier bars.
· Cool Completely: This is the hardest but most important step. If you cut them while warm, they will be messy and fall apart.
· Customize the Filling: Not a cherry fan? This recipe works beautifully with blueberry, apple, or raspberry pie filling.
· Add Nuts: Sprinkle ½ cup of sliced almonds or chopped pecans over the top crumble before baking for a delicious crunch.
· Lemon Zest: Add a teaspoon of lemon zest to the glaze for a bright, zesty kick that cuts the sweetness perfectly.
Enjoy your delicious, homemade Cherry Bars! They are perfect for potlucks, bake sales, or a simple family treat.