Description
Buttery Christmas Cherry Bars with layers of soft cookie dough, rich cherry filling, and a sweet almond glaze — a festive one-pan dessert perfect for holidays.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cans (21 oz each) cherry pie filling
For the glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2–3 tablespoons milk
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 15x10x1-inch jelly roll pan.
2. In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar, and salt until fluffy.
3. Beat in eggs one at a time.
4. Mix in vanilla and almond extracts.
5. Gradually stir in flour to form a soft dough.
6. Spread 3 cups of the dough evenly in the prepared pan.
7. Layer cherry pie filling evenly over the dough.
8. Drop remaining dough by teaspoonfuls over the filling.
9. Bake 30–35 minutes until golden brown.
10. Cool completely before glazing.
11. For the glaze, whisk powdered sugar, vanilla, almond extract, and milk until smooth.
12. Drizzle glaze over cooled bars, slice, and serve.
Notes
Let bars cool fully before slicing for clean edges.
Spray your knife with nonstick spray and wipe between cuts.
Bars freeze well either whole or sliced with parchment between layers.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Store at room temperature for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Easy & Decadent Christmas Desserts
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg