Cherry Pie Bars

These Cherry Pie Bars are a simpler, sliceable take on traditional cherry pie—featuring a buttery crust, sweet-tart cherry filling, and a soft vanilla glaze on top. Perfect for picnics, holidays, or casual weekday desserts, they’re easy to serve, easy to love, and sure to become a year-round favorite.

Stack of cherry pie bars with crumb topping next to a bowl of fresh cherries
Clock symbol indicating preparation, baking, and chilling times

Prep – 20 minutes
Bake – 35 minutes

Two stacked dessert bars with a textured surface, representing baked dessert bars.

16 squares
Ingredients

For the Crust & Base:

  • 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 cups (375g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt

Filling:

  • 1 can (21 oz / 595g) cherry pie filling

Optional Glaze:

  • 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • ½ tsp vanilla
Instructions
  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Grease a 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) pan.
  • Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Gradually mix in flour and salt.
  • Spread ¾ of the batter into the pan. Top with cherry pie filling, then dollop remaining batter over top.
  • Bake 30–35 minutes until golden. Cool completely. Drizzle with glaze before serving, if desired.

Tips & Tricks

  • Use high-quality cherry pie filling or homemade for best results—fresh or frozen cherries work beautifully when in season.
  • Add almond extract to the glaze or filling for a lovely flavor twist.
  • Don’t overbake; the top should be lightly golden but still soft and tender inside.

  • Serve slightly warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a classic à la mode feel.

  • Let bars cool fully before slicing for neat squares or rectangles.

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