Velvet Cherry Bars with Vanilla Cloud Glaze

Indulge in the irresistible charm of these **cherry bars**, a delightful dessert featuring a soft, buttery cookie crust generously topped with luscious cherry pie filling, a second layer of crumbly cookie dough, and finished with a delicate drizzle of vanilla glaze. This easy-to-make, yet impressive, treat is perfectly suited for feeding a crowd or simply satisfying a sweet craving. Imagine a handheld pie with all the flavor and significantly less effort – that’s the magic of these cherry pie bars!

For those who cherish classic desserts, these bar cookies offer a fantastic alternative to traditional pies, making them an ideal addition to any holiday cookie platter. They pair wonderfully with other festive delights like molasses cookies, charming thumbprint cookies, and snowy snowball cookies. Their vibrant color and delectable taste make them a standout on any dessert spread.

Why You’ll Love These Cherry Bars

These cherry bars are more than just a dessert; they are a delightful experience that brings joy to any occasion. Their buttery, tender cookie base offers the perfect contrast to the sweet and slightly tart cherry filling, creating a symphony of flavors and textures in every bite. The rich almond notes in the cookie dough, enhanced by a delicate vanilla glaze, elevate this simple recipe to gourmet status. They’re incredibly easy to prepare, making them an excellent choice for beginner bakers or when you need a quick yet impressive treat. Plus, they scale beautifully, ensuring you can easily whip up a batch large enough for family gatherings, potlucks, or holiday parties. Forget the fuss of a pie crust; these bars deliver all the comfort and deliciousness with minimal effort, ensuring maximum enjoyment for everyone!

Essential Cherry Bars Ingredients

Crafting these delectable cherry bars with their signature vanilla glaze requires a straightforward list of ingredients, most of which you likely already have on hand. For the rich, tender cookie bars, you will need high-quality **unsalted butter**, **granulated sugar** to achieve that perfect sweetness, a touch of **salt** to balance the flavors, and **fresh eggs** for binding and richness. **All-purpose flour** forms the structural base, while **vanilla extract** and crucially, **almond extract**, infuse the dough with a distinctive, aromatic essence. The star of the show, of course, is the vibrant **cherry pie filling**, readily available in cans for ultimate convenience. For the smooth, glossy glaze that crowns these bars, gather **powdered sugar** (confectioners’ sugar), a hint more **vanilla extract** and **almond extract** to echo the flavors of the bars, and a splash of **milk** to achieve the ideal consistency. Prepare to be amazed at how such simple components combine to create something so extraordinary!

How to Make The Best Cherry Bars

Creating these delightful cherry bars is a rewarding process that combines simplicity with sensational results. Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and preparing a 10″ x 15″ jelly roll pan by coating it generously with cooking spray. This ensures your bars release easily after baking. Next, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or using an electric hand mixer, beat together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and a pinch of salt until the mixture is light and fluffy – this typically takes about 2-3 minutes. This creaming process incorporates air, contributing to the cookie crust’s tender texture.

Once fluffy, incorporate the eggs, adding them one at a time and beating well after each addition until fully combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the all-purpose flour, mixing just until it’s incorporated. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough bars. Finally, stir in the vanilla extract and, most importantly, the almond extract, which lends a distinctive and irresistible flavor to these bars. Divide the dough: press approximately two-thirds of the dough evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan to form the base. This can be easily done with your hands or an offset spatula. Then, carefully spoon and spread two cans of cherry pie filling over the cookie dough layer, creating a luscious red center. Take the remaining one-third of the cookie dough and drop teaspoon-sized dollops randomly over the cherry filling. These dollops will bake into a beautiful, buttery crumb topping.

Bake the pan for 35-40 minutes, or until the cookie dough topping turns a beautiful golden brown and the filling is bubbly. Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely on a wire rack. Cooling is crucial before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting. While the bars cool, prepare the simple vanilla glaze by whisking together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract, and milk until smooth. If you prefer a thinner glaze, add a tiny bit more milk, one teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. Drizzle the finished glaze over the cooled cherry bars. Let the glaze set and harden for a few minutes before slicing the bars into neat squares. Now, they are ready to serve and impress!

Pro Tips For Perfect Cherry Bars

• This cherry bars recipe is designed for a **15″ x 10″ jelly roll pan**, a size that yields thinner, perfectly balanced bars. If you don’t have this specific size, you can certainly use a standard 9″ x 13″ baking pan instead. Keep in mind that using a smaller pan will result in thicker bars, which means they will require a longer baking time. To ensure they cook through evenly, you might need to add an extra 5-10 minutes to the baking time, keeping an eye on the edges for a golden brown color and the center for firmness.
• While canned cherry pie filling offers incredible convenience, for an extra special, homemade touch, consider preparing your own homemade cherry pie filling. It adds a fresh, vibrant flavor that truly elevates these bars.
• Most of the ingredients for this recipe are kitchen staples. However, one ingredient that truly makes these cherry bars exceptional is **almond extract**. Its distinct, warm, nutty aroma perfectly complements the tartness of the cherries and the sweetness of the cookie dough. I strongly encourage you to make a special trip to the grocery store to pick some up if you don’t have it. You’ll find it’s a small investment for a significantly enhanced flavor profile that you won’t regret!
• For the best texture, avoid overmixing the cookie dough after adding the flour. Mix just until combined to keep the bars tender and soft.
• Ensure the bars are completely cooled before applying the glaze. A warm bar will cause the glaze to melt and run, resulting in a less appealing finish. Patience truly pays off here!

Delicious Flavor Variations

While this recipe yields truly fantastic cherry bars, its versatility allows for easy modification to perfectly suit your personal preferences and seasonal availability. Don’t hesitate to experiment and make these bars your own!

• **Alternate Fillings**: The cookie base is wonderfully adaptable. Instead of cherry, you can use other fruit pie fillings to create entirely new flavor profiles. Consider a sweet and tangy apple pie filling for classic appeal, a vibrant blueberry pie filling for a summer treat, or a juicy peach pie filling for a taste of sunshine. Each variation promises a delightful twist!
• **Serve with Ice Cream**: While cherry pie bars are exquisite on their own, a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream on the side never hurts. The cold, melting ice cream provides a luxurious contrast to the warm, fruit-filled bar, creating an even more indulgent dessert experience.
• **Chocolate Cherry Bliss**: For all the chocolate lovers, simply mix 1 cup of semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips into the cookie dough before spreading it into the pan. The rich chocolate pairs beautifully with the sweet and tart cherries, creating a harmonious and decadent flavor combination.
• **Crunchy Crumble Topping**: Elevate the texture by adding a delectable crumble topping. In a small bowl, combine 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 cup cold butter cut into small pieces. Use two forks or your fingertips to mix until crumbly. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the cherry pie filling before baking for an extra layer of buttery crunch.
• **Zesty Orange Glaze**: For a brighter, citrusy finish, swap out the almond extract and milk in the glaze. Instead, whisk together powdered sugar with 1 1/2 tablespoons of fresh orange juice. This creates a vibrant, tangy glaze that adds a refreshing zing to the sweet cherry bars.

Cherry bars are the ultimate crowd-pleaser, making them a fantastic offering for potlucks, family reunions, or any occasion where you need to feed a large group. They fit perfectly on a holiday cookie tray, adding a splash of festive color and an irresistible flavor. Everyone who tries these delightful bars consistently asks for the recipe – they truly are that good! Imagine the comforting flavors of a classic cherry pie combined with the tender, buttery texture of an almond sugar cookie. These cherry bars consistently receive rave reviews and their vibrant appearance makes them incredibly festive for any holiday gathering. They are simple to prepare, yet sophisticated enough to impress even the most discerning dessert connoisseurs. Get ready to bake a new favorite!

★★★★★

5 from 17 votes

Cherry Bars

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Author:
Sara Welch

These cherry bars are a soft cookie crust topped with cherry pie filling, more cookie dough and a drizzle of vanilla glaze. An easy and impressive dessert that’s perfect to feed a crowd!

Time

Prep Time:
10 minutes

Cook Time:
40 minutes

Total Time:
50 minutes

Course:
Dessert

Cuisine:
American

Serves:
24

Ingredients

For the bars

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 eggs
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¾ teaspoon almond extract
• 2 cans cherry pie filling
• Cooking spray

For the glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon almond extract
• 2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat a 10″ x 15″ jelly roll pan generously with cooking spray.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the softened butter, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until fully incorporated.
4. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the all-purpose flour, mixing just until combined. Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts.
5. Spread two-thirds of the cookie dough evenly over the bottom of the prepared pan. An offset spatula works wonderfully for this task.
6. Evenly spread the cherry pie filling over the dough layer.
7. Take the remaining dough and place teaspoon-sized dollops randomly all over the surface of the pie filling.
8. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
9. To prepare the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract, and milk in a small bowl until smooth. Add more milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, if a thinner glaze is desired.
10. Once the bars are completely cooled, drizzle the prepared glaze evenly over the top. Let the glaze set and harden before cutting into squares and serving.

Notes

1. Using an offset spatula makes spreading the dough and pie filling exceptionally easy and smooth.
2. This recipe is optimized for a 15″ x 10″ jelly roll pan. If using a 9″ x 13″ pan, the bars will be thicker and may require an additional 5-10 minutes of baking time.

Nutrition Information (per serving)

Calories: 277kcal |
Carbohydrates: 47g |
Protein: 2g |
Fat: 8g |
Saturated Fat: 5g |
Cholesterol: 47mg |
Sodium: 184mg |
Potassium: 82mg |
Sugar: 21g |
Vitamin A: 375IU |
Vitamin C: 1.8mg |
Calcium: 16mg |
Iron: 1mg

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