Description
Festive Christmas cherry bars bring seasonal joy to holiday dessert tables with their rich, buttery crust and sweet cherry filling. Delightful layers of crimson cherries nestled between crumbly pastry promise merry celebrations that guests will savor and remember.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 can (21 ounces / 595 grams) cherry pie filling
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup (227 grams) butter, softened
- 2 cups (400 grams) sugar
Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
Topping Ingredients:
- 1 cup (120 grams) powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and baking vessel by heating to 350°F and coating a 9×13-inch pan with butter or non-stick spray to ensure easy release.
- Utilize an electric mixer to thoroughly blend butter and sugar until the mixture becomes airy and pale, creating a smooth foundation for the dessert.
- Incorporate eggs individually, ensuring complete integration after each addition, then blend in vanilla extract for enhanced flavor complexity.
- Separately combine flour and salt, then gently fold into the butter mixture, mixing minimally to maintain a tender texture.
- Distribute approximately three cups of batter evenly across the prepared pan, using a spatula to create a uniform base layer.
- Delicately spoon cherry pie filling over the initial batter layer, maintaining distinct separation between components.
- Strategically scatter remaining batter in small dollops across the cherry layer, allowing glimpses of the vibrant filling to peek through.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, monitoring until the surface achieves a golden-brown appearance and the center sets completely.
- Allow the dessert to cool thoroughly on a wire rack before applying glaze, permitting structural stability and optimal flavor development.
Notes
- Choose high-quality maraschino cherries or fresh cherries for a more vibrant and authentic flavor profile.
- Ensure butter is softened at room temperature for smoother creaming and better texture in the bars.
- Use an offset spatula or back of a spoon to distribute batter evenly and create beautiful marbled effects with the cherry filling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 334
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 113 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 63 mg