Description
Irresistible Cherry Pie Bars blend classic American dessert charm with convenient handheld convenience. Sweet cherry filling nestled between buttery crumble layers promises pure comfort you can savor in every delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Topping:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Filling:
- 4 cups fresh cherries, pitted
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing excess to hang over the sides for easy removal.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt, creating a uniform dry mixture.
- Cut the cold butter into the dry ingredients using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Incorporate the egg into the crumbly mixture, gently mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Press approximately two-thirds of the dough firmly and evenly into the prepared baking pan, creating a compact base layer.
- In a separate bowl, toss the pitted cherries with sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice until the cherries are thoroughly coated.
- Spread the cherry mixture evenly over the prepared crust, ensuring complete coverage.
- Crumble the remaining dough over the cherry filling, creating a rustic, uneven topping.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the top turns golden brown and the cherry filling becomes bubbly and slightly thickened.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the pan for about 1 hour.
- Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract to create a smooth, drizzling glaze.
- Once cooled, lift the bars out using the parchment paper overhang and transfer to a cutting surface.
- Drizzle the vanilla glaze generously over the bars, allowing it to set for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
- Cut into squares and serve at room temperature.
Notes
- Adjust butter temperature carefully to ensure the perfect crumbly texture without overworking the dough.
- Drain cherries well to prevent excess liquid from making the bars soggy and compromising the base’s structural integrity.
- Replace fresh cherries with frozen ones by thawing and patting them dry completely before mixing with sugar and cornstarch.
- Customize the recipe for dietary needs by substituting gluten-free flour blend and using plant-based butter for a vegan-friendly version.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg