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Christmas Cherry Bars

Christmas Cherry Bars: 1 Easy Festive Recipe


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  • Author: Sadka
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 24 bars 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

These Christmas Cherry Bars are a festive and delicious holiday treat. They feature a buttery shortbread-like base, a sweet-tart cherry filling, and an optional simple glaze. Easy to make, they are perfect for Christmas parties, cookie exchanges, or adding holiday cheer to any dessert table. These bars bake beautifully and slice cleanly, making them a convenient and crowd-pleasing dessert.


Ingredients

Scale
  • For the Base:
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (226 g)
  • 2 cups granulated sugar (400 g)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour (360 g)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • For the Cherry Layer:
  • 1 can cherry pie filling (21 oz / 595 g)
  • For the Glaze (Optional):
  • 1 cup powdered sugar (120 g)
  • 23 tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add vanilla and almond extracts.
  4. Gradually mix in the flour and salt until a smooth batter forms.
  5. Spread about two-thirds of the batter evenly across the bottom of the prepared pan.
  6. Spread the cherry pie filling evenly over the base.
  7. Drop small spoonfuls of the remaining batter over the cherry layer, leaving some cherries exposed for a festive look.
  8. Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  9. Let bars cool completely on a wire rack.
  10. For the glaze: whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla (or almond extract) until smooth.
  11. Drizzle glaze over cooled bars before cutting into squares.

Notes

  • Use room temperature butter for easy creaming.
  • Do not overmix the batter to keep the base tender.
  • Leave some cherries peeking through the top for a beautiful holiday look.
  • Allow bars to cool fully before glazing and cutting to prevent crumbling.
  • Chill bars in the fridge before cutting with a sharp knife for clean slices.
  • Consider freezing unglazed bars for up to 2 months, and glaze after thawing.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 bar