Here’s a great recipe for Cherry Bars for a Crowd—perfect for gatherings!
Ingredients:
For the crust and topping:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cups sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract (optional)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
For the filling:
- 1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling
For the glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1-2 tbsp milk
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 15x10x1-inch baking pan.
- Make the dough: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then add vanilla extract and almond extract (if using). In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
- Layer the dough: Spread about two-thirds of the dough into the prepared baking pan, pressing it evenly into the bottom.
- Add the cherry filling: Spoon the cherry pie filling over the dough layer, spreading it out evenly.
- Top with remaining dough: Drop the remaining dough by spoonfuls over the cherry filling. It won’t cover completely, but that’s okay—leave some gaps for the cherries to peek through.
- Bake: Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the pan.
- Make the glaze: Whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled bars.
- Serve: Once the bars are set, cut into squares and serve.
These Cherry Bars are sweet, buttery, and perfect for feeding a crowd!
