Christmas Cherry Bars Dessert (Printable View)

Buttery holiday bars layered with cherry filling and sweet almond glaze. Festive, flavorful, and crowd-pleasing.

# Ingredient List:

→ Base

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 2 cups granulated sugar
03 - 4 large eggs
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
05 - 1 teaspoon almond extract, optional
06 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
07 - 1 teaspoon salt

→ Cherry Layer

08 - 1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling

→ Glaze (Optional)

09 - 1 cup powdered sugar
10 - 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
11 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract

# Preparation Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
03 - Beat eggs into the mixture one at a time, then blend in vanilla and almond extracts.
04 - Gradually incorporate the flour and salt into the wet mixture, mixing until a smooth batter forms.
05 - Evenly spread two-thirds of the batter across the bottom of the prepared pan.
06 - Spoon the cherry pie filling over the batter, distributing it evenly.
07 - Drop small spoonfuls of the remaining batter across the cherries, leaving some filling exposed.
08 - Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
09 - Transfer the baking pan to a wire rack and allow to cool completely.
10 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla or almond extract together until smooth.
11 - Drizzle glaze over the cooled bars before slicing into squares.

# Supplementary Details:

01 - For best texture, allow bars to cool fully before glazing and slicing.

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