Cherry Bars Recipe

These Cherry Bars are the perfect way to use up fresh cherries. They are part cookie, part juicy cherries and part heaven. Great party food!

I was chatting with a friend recently who told me that she didn’t like baking with fruit. Whaaa?! That’s like telling me that gooey marshmallows don’t go well with chocolate and graham crackers. Fruit and baked goods create the sweetest of flavor combinations and I could dream up about a million ways to make that sweet magic happen. This is why I get so giddy when fruit is bulging from the produce section. It is impossible to resist juicy bing cherries when they’re ripe and begging to be brought back to my home. I always say yes. Even if I do not have a plan.

I’ve recently made Cherry Pie Cookies (from Cookie Remix) and I’ve made Pan-Fried Brie with Cherries and also Cherry Almond Cheesecake. All of the above are out-of-this-world yummy, but I use canned pie filling for all. Nothing beats baking with fresh cherries, so please make this recipe and see for yourself.

After being seduced by bing cherries at the store, I quickly formulated a cherry plan and threw this batch of Cherry Bars together. My boys and I were like barnyard animals standing at a trough with these beautiful babies.

Here’s How To Prepare A Simple Icing – Watch This Quick Video!

Frozen cherries are a fine replacement for fresh, but fresh is best. Make these for your next gathering and you’ll be the star of the show! These. Are. Delicious.

What plans do you have for the weekend? Hoping you have a great one! Thanks for being here and enjoy the Cherry Bars!

Cherry Bars

Add fresh cherries to dessert to create the most succulent dessert bars your lips have ever tasted!

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: bars, cherries, cookies, party food, potluck

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 16 servings

Calories: 294kcal

Ingredients

FILLING

• 3 cups fresh Bing cherries pitted and chopped
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

DOUGH

• 1 cup butter softened (2 sticks)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. almond extract
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt

GLAZE

• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 tbsp. milk

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9×13 pan with cooking spray and set aside. In a small bowl, combine the chopped cherries and 1/2 cup sugar. Mix well and set aside.
• Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer), combine the butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, eggs and almond extract and beat on medium speed until creamy and free of lumps.
• In a separate bowl, combine the flour,  baking powder and salt. Mix well. Gradually add to the butter mixture and beat on medium speed until just combined.
• Using your fingers, press approximately half of the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and top with the cherry mixture. Drop the remaining dough in clumps over the top and bake for an addition 25-30 minutes, or until cherries are bubbling and the dough is golden brown. Let cool.
• Using a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer), combine the confectioner’s sugar and milk. Beat on medium speed until smooth. Scrape the sides of the bowl if necessary. Drizzle the glaze over the bars, cut into squares and serve!

Nutrition

Calories: 294kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 203mg | Potassium: 90mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 401IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1mg