I don’t know what it is about these bars, but Cherry Pie Bars always remind me of Valentine’s Day, maybe it’s the color, maybe it’s the flavor, either way I love them! They are delicious to eat and so simple to make. Literally the perfect treat for feeding a crowd.
First you make the crust which is like a sugar cookie. I doubled the original recipe so that I could use a cookie sheet. It was divine. Depending on how much cherry you like you can use more than one can of filling. I’m not a huge filling fan so I keep mine less filling more cookie. Then you place a few balls of dough on top of the filling and bake for 30 minutes. Once it’s cooled you can top with the powdered sugar glaze.
CHERRY PIE BARS
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 1 cup shortening
- 3 1/2 cups sugar
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 6 eggs
- 2 teaspoons almond extract
- 6 cups flour
- 1 21 ounce cherry pie filling (if you like extra filling add more.)
- Powdered Sugar Icing
- 1 1/2 cups Powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 4 tablespoons milk plus more for desired consistency
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease cookie sheet. Or you can line it with tinfoil for easier clean up.
- In a bowl with mixer, combine butter and shortening.
- Add sugar, followed by baking powder and salt and continue mixing.
- Add eggs and almond extract and mix until well combined, scraping down the sides of bowl as needed.
- Add flour and mix until combined.
- Set aside about 3 cups of dough for topping. Evenly spread remaining dough in the bottom of the cookie sheet.
- Bake for about 12 minutes.
- Remove cookie sheet from oven and top with cherry pie filling then dot filling with remaining dough. I did one inch balls in a checkered pattern.
- Bake for about 30 minutes or until top is a light golden brown.
- While cherry pie bars are cooling, prepare powdered sugar icing.
- After ten minutes of cooling, drizzle powdered sugar icing over the cherry pie bars.
- Let cool completely and then cut.
Trying to feed a crowd? Cut them into inch or slightly bigger pieces. This will be a treat people can’t just eat one of. And will be a favorite of everyone!
