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Christmas Cherry Bars

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Christmas Cherry Bars are a festive, easy-to-make dessert featuring a buttery crust, sweet-tart cherry filling, and a drizzle of almond glaze. Perfect for holiday parties, gifting, or cozy family gatherings, these bars are a nostalgic treat that everyone will love.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
  • 2 cans (21 oz each) cherry pie filling
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 cup powdered sugar (for glaze, optional)
  • 1–2 tablespoons milk (for glaze, optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (for glaze, optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch pan or line with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes). Add eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract; beat until well combined.
  3. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to wet mixture, mixing just until dough forms.
  4. Scoop out 2/3 of dough and press evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
  5. In a small bowl, stir together cherry pie filling and cornstarch. Spread cherry mixture evenly over crust, avoiding edges.
  6. Drop spoonfuls of remaining dough over filling. Leave some gaps for the cherry to peek through.
  7. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until top is golden and filling bubbles around the edges.
  8. Let bars cool completely in pan (about 1 hour).
  9. For optional glaze: Mix powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract in a bowl. Drizzle over cooled bars.
  10. Cut into squares or bars (about 24 pieces). Wipe knife between slices for clean edges.

Notes

For gluten-free or dairy-free adaptations, substitute with 1:1 gluten-free flour and plant-based butter. Use flax eggs for egg-free version. Let bars cool completely before slicing for neat edges. Bars can be made ahead and freeze well. For extra festive flair, add slivered almonds or holiday sprinkles before baking.

Nutrition

Keywords: Christmas Cherry Bars, holiday dessert, cherry bars, festive baking, easy cherry bars, potluck dessert, almond glaze, cherry pie filling bars

Find it online: https://avabake.com/christmas-cherry-bars-easy-festive-dessert-for-holiday-parties/