Cherry Bars

Cherry Bars

🍒✨ Cherry Bars — Sweet, Buttery, and Crowd‑Pleasing

When dessert is this pretty, you almost don’t want to cut into it… almost.

 

These Cherry Bars are the dessert equivalent of that friend who always shows up to the party looking effortlessly fabulous. Buttery, soft, and layered with sweet‑tart cherry pie filling, they’re finished with a drizzle of vanilla glaze that makes them look bakery‑worthy — without the bakery price tag.

They’re:

• Ridiculously easy — no fancy equipment, no stress.
• Perfect for sharing — bake once, feed a crowd.
• A little nostalgic — like cherry pie, but in a grab‑and‑go bar form.

💬 Reader prompt: Are you a “corner piece” dessert person or do you go straight for the gooey middle?

 

We have family dinner every other Sunday and there is a lot of us to feed! lol! I have found that making a sheet pan dessert is the best way to go! Seriously, I think there’s magic in sheet pans because whatever you cook on them tastes delicious!

I have never made this dessert before and I didn’t  know how it was going to turn out. I had looked at a couple of similar recipes for reference, and there crust on top looked so artsy. 

I realized that sometimes the crust doesn’t cooperate with what you are trying to do and all that matters is the flavor. Let me tell you that the FLAVOR IS HERE!

 

Super easy recipe! You will be making this a lot this Summer!

 

After mixing the batter, place 3 cups of the batter on a greased sheet pan. Spread it out evenly.

 

Next comes the filling. Pour it on and smooth it as close to the edges as you can.

 

Next, take the remaining batter and dollop on the top of your bars. 

 

 

Place it in a preheated 350 degree oven and cook it for 35 to 40 minutes, depending on how hot your oven gets.

 

 

Once it’s cooled. Mix 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla, and 2 tablespoons of milk. Drizzle on top! Serve with ice cream, and get ready for the yums!!

 

Cherry Bars

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Ingredients

• For the bars:
• 2 sticks of butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 eggs
• 2teaspoons vanilla
• 3 cups flour
• 2 (21 ounce) cans cherry pie filling
• For the glaze:
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2-3 Tablespoons milk

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar and salt until light and fluffy.
2. Add 4 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add in vanilla.
3. Gradually add 3 cups flour. Combine well.
4. Spread 3 cups dough into a greased sheet pan. Spread cherry pie filling evenly on top.
5. Dollop remaining dough by teaspoonfuls over filling. Bake 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
6. In a small bowl, mix 1 cup powdered sugar, vanilla, and about 2-3 Tablespoons milk to reach desired consistency; drizzle over top.

🔢 Calorie Count (Per Bar — Makes ~24)

• Calories: ~230
• Protein: 3g
• Carbs: 34g
• Fat: 10g
• Sugar: 20g

📊 Nutritional Facts (Per Bar)

\*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

👩‍🍳 Baking Tips for Cherry Bar Success

• Room‑temp butter is key — it creams better, giving you a lighter dough.
• Don’t overmix — keeps the bars tender.
• Cool completely before glazing — or the glaze will melt right in.
• Jelly roll pan = thinner bars — 9×13 = thicker, more cake‑like bars.
• Offset spatula — makes spreading dough and filling a breeze.

💬 Reader prompt: Do you like your glaze thick and drizzly or thin and sheer?

🎨 Recipe Variations

• Berry Swap — try blueberry or raspberry pie filling.
• Almond Twist — add ½ teaspoon almond extract to the dough and glaze.
• Citrus Kick — stir orange zest into the glaze.
• Chocolate Drizzle — swap part of the glaze for melted chocolate.
• Holiday Vibes — use cranberry filling and a sprinkle of powdered sugar “snow.”

🧒 Kid Tips

• Let kids help drizzle the glaze — it’s messy, but fun.
• Use mini cookie cutters to cut bars into fun shapes.
• Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra treat.
• Make “cherry bar sandwiches” by stacking two bars with whipped cream in between.

💬 Reader prompt: Parents — do your kids go for the fruit filling or the buttery crust first?

🛒 Grocery Hacks

• Pie filling — stock up during holiday sales; it keeps for ages.
• Butter — buy in bulk and freeze sticks.
• Powdered sugar — store in an airtight container to prevent clumps.
• Vanilla extract — make your own with vanilla beans and vodka for savings.
• Flour — keep a small container in the kitchen and the rest in the freezer to stay fresh.

📣 Reader’s Challenge: #CherryBarSquad

Here’s your mission:

1. Make these Cherry Bars.
2. Put your own spin on them — maybe a new filling, a fun glaze color, or a sprinkle of something extra.
3. Snap a photo and post with #CherryBarSquad.
4. I’ll feature my favorites in an upcoming Friday Favorites post!

♻️ Leftover Remix

• Cherry Trifles — layer bar cubes with whipped cream and pudding.
• Ice Cream Sundae Topper — warm and spoon over vanilla ice cream.
• Cherry Parfait — crumble into yogurt with granola.
• Milkshake Mix‑In — blend with vanilla ice cream and milk.
• Lunchbox Treat — wrap individually for grab‑and‑go sweetness.

💭 Final Thoughts

These bars are proof that dessert doesn’t have to be complicated to be impressive. They’re buttery, fruity, and just the right amount of sweet — the kind of treat that disappears from the plate before you can even grab a second piece. And because they’re so easy to make, you can whip them up for everything from bake sales to Sunday dinners.

💬 Reader prompt: If you could turn any pie flavor into a dessert bar, what would it be?

Some desserts are just desserts. These Cherry Bars? They’re a celebration in every bite. They’re the smell of buttery dough baking, the sight of ruby‑red cherries peeking through, and the joy of that first bite when the glaze hits your tongue.

I love that they’re flexible — you can keep them classic, swap the fruit, or dress them up for the holidays. They’re forgiving, too; even if your glaze drips in unexpected places, they’ll still taste like something you’d proudly serve to guests. And they’re the kind of recipe that makes people linger at the table, chatting and reaching for “just one more.”

So here’s my challenge: make them, share them, and tag your creations with #CherryBarSquad so we can all drool together, swap ideas, and maybe even inspire the next great dessert bar flavor. I want to see your prettiest glaze drizzles, your boldest fruit swaps, your “couldn’t wait to take a bite” photos.

Here’s to sweet moments, buttery crusts, and recipes that bring people together. Here’s to you — because you’re about to bake something that will have everyone asking, “When are you making these again?” 🍒💛

Cherry Bars

Did you try our Cherry Bars? What did you think? Did you love them? We would love to hear from you! Please leave us a comment below or tag us on Instagram!

 

 

 

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