Easy Cherry Pie Bars (Printable version)
Tender, buttery bars with sweet cherry filling and vanilla glaze.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Dough
01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
03 - 4 large eggs
04 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
05 - 1/2 tsp almond extract
06 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
07 - 1/2 tsp salt
→ Filling
08 - 1 (21 oz) can cherry pie filling
→ Glaze
09 - 1 cup powdered sugar
10 - 2–3 tbsp milk
11 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan or line with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, cream softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
03 - Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla and almond extracts. Mix well.
04 - Whisk flour and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually add to wet mixture, mixing just until combined.
05 - Spread about two-thirds of dough evenly into prepared pan, smoothing the top.
06 - Spoon cherry pie filling evenly over dough layer.
07 - Drop small spoonfuls of remaining dough over cherry filling, leaving gaps for cherries to show through.
08 - Bake 30–35 minutes until top is lightly golden and edges are set.
09 - Cool completely on wire rack before glazing.
10 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over cooled bars.
11 - Allow glaze to set before slicing into bars.
# Expert tips:
01 -
- The dough comes together in minutes with zero fancy techniques
- That drizzle of vanilla glaze makes everything feel special and homemade
02 -
- The dough will feel thick and somewhat sticky, which is exactly right for this recipe
- Press the bottom layer firmly and evenly so the cherry filling sits on a solid foundation
03 -
- Use an offset spatula to spread the dough evenly in the pan
- Chill the pan for 15 minutes before baking if the dough feels too soft to handle