Description
Soft Glazed Cherry Pie Bars made with buttery vanilla-almond batter, sweet cherry pie filling, and a smooth almond glaze. A simple dessert for brunch, potlucks, and sharing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 42 ounces cherry pie filling, about 2 cans
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon almond extract, for glaze
- 2 tablespoons milk, plus more as needed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 10-by-15-inch jelly roll pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Mix in the vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract.
- Add the flour and salt, then mix just until the batter comes together.
- Spread half of the batter evenly into the prepared jelly roll pan.
- Spoon the cherry pie filling over the batter without stirring it into the cake layer.
- Drop tablespoons of the remaining batter randomly over the cherry filling.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the cake portion turns lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
- While the bars bake, whisk together powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon almond extract, and milk until smooth.
- Let the bars cool for 15 minutes after baking.
- Drizzle the glaze over the warm bars, then cool further before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Do not mix the cherry pie filling into the batter; keep it as a separate fruit layer.
- Use two cans of cherry pie filling for the fullest flavor and best presentation.
- Thin the glaze with extra milk, one teaspoon at a time, until it drizzles easily.
- Cool the bars before cutting for cleaner slices.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 555
- Sugar: 43
- Sodium: 259
- Fat: 17
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 6
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 95
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 6
- Cholesterol: 96