Cherry Pie Bars

 

Enjoy cherry pie in its best form: cherry pie bars! You can whip up a whole pan in minutes using cherry pie filling. They're beautiful, easy to make, and always a crowd-pleaser!

Reason's You'll Love This Dessert

• Incredible Flavor: These bars combine buttery crust with sweet-tart cherry filling and a hint of almond, creating a delicious treat everyone will love.
• Quick and Easy: Simple ingredients and easy steps mean you can whip these up in no time, perfect for busy days or spontaneous cravings.
• Perfect for Sharing: Easy to cut and serve, these bars are a crowd favorite for parties, family get-togethers, or Memorial Day BBQs. The sweet glaze makes them look as good as they taste!

Cherry Pie Bars Recipe

The favorite pie for many is cherry pie! It's so delicious and you can have it all year long, no matter that the occasion! But pie can be time consuming, and thats where this simple recipe comes in!

These cherry pie bars are so good, it's like biting into cherry pie AND cookies. These bars are incredible — they're soft, chewy, flavorful, and the glaze on top is the perfect finishing touch. Serve these with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for the ultimate dessert!

Ingredients to Make Cherry Pie Bars

These ingredients are so simple, you probably just need to grab some cherry pie filling and you might already have the rest! Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all of the exact measurements.

Bars

• Butter: Adds rich flavor and creates a tender, flaky texture.
• Sugar: Sweetens the batter and helps create a golden brown crust.
• Eggs: Provide structure and moisture, making the bars soft and chewy.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor with a warm, sweet note.
• Almond Extract: Adds a subtle, nutty depth that pairs well with cherries.
• Flour: Forms the base of the batter, giving the bars their structure.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the other flavors.
• Cherry Pie Filling: Provides a delicious, fruity center that's easy to use.

Glaze

• Vanilla Extract and Almond Extract: These complement the flavors in the crust.
• Powdered Sugar: Used in the glaze for sweetness and a smooth texture.
• Milk: Thins the glaze to a perfect drizzling consistency.

How Do You Make Cherry Pie Bars?

This recipe is so easy and comes together in less than an hour, start to finish! And most of that is baking time.

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with pan spray and set aside.
2. Cream: Cream together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and beat well. Beat in the vanilla and almond extracts.
3. Combine: In a separate bowl combine the flour and salt. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and mix until combined.
4. Add batter and filling to pan: Spread 3 cups of the batter evenly on the bottom of the prepared pan. Top with the cans of cherry pie filling, spreading evenly across the batter. Drop dollops of the remaining batter as evenly as you can over the top until all the batter has been used.
5. Bake: Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean and the top is lightly golden brown. If you are using a 15×10-inch pan instead, the bake time may end up being a bit shorter, about 30 minutes. Cool completely.
6. Make the glaze: Whisk together the glaze ingredients and drizzle over the cooled bars.

Cream the Butter and Sugar

Beat in the Eggs and Extracts

Add the Flour and Salt to the Butter Mixture

Spread 3 cups of batter into the bottom of the pan

Top with the Cherry Pie filling

Spoon the remaining batter over the top and bake.

Cream the butter and sugar.

Cherry Pie Bars Tips

• Room-Temperature Ingredients: Use room-temperature eggs and butter for a fluffier texture. To quickly warm cold eggs, soak them in warm (not hot) water for 5-10 minutes.
• Measuring the Flour: For best results, spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off. This prevents dense, heavy bars.
• Grease the Pan: Grease your pan well to ensure easy removal. It's recommended using a pan spray with flour, like Baker's Joy.
• Try Different Fillings: You can use any pie filling you like—apple, strawberry, peach, or blueberry. For a fall flavor, add a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg.
• Pan Size: A 9×13-inch pan with 2-inch high sides works best. If you use a larger pan, reduce the baking time by 5-10 minutes.

Storing Cherry Pie Bars

This dessert is great to make ahead of time because it stores great!

• At Room Temperature: Store the bars by tightly covering them with plastic wrap or placing them in an airtight container. They will stay fresh for up to 5 days.
• In the Refrigerator: If you prefer to refrigerate them, they will last up to 7 days.
• In the Freezer: To freeze, cut the bars into pieces and layer them with parchment paper. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for a few hours. For best results, wait to add the glaze until you're ready to serve, as it may get sticky when thawed.