Cherry Pie Bars

 

🍒 Cherry Pie Bars: All the Flavor of Pie, None of the Fuss

If you love the sweet, fruity richness of cherry pie but don’t have the time (or patience) to roll out dough and crimp edges, you’re in luck. These Cherry Pie Bars deliver all the nostalgic flavor of classic cherry pie — in a quick, easy-to-slice bar form that’s perfect for potlucks, picnics, and weeknight treats.

With a buttery shortbread-style crust, a gooey cherry filling, and a sweet vanilla glaze, this crowd-pleasing dessert is as beautiful as it is delicious. Bonus: No pie pan required!

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❤️ Why You’ll Love These Cherry Pie Bars:

• ✅ Easier than making a traditional pie

• ✅ Great for feeding a crowd

• ✅ Perfect balance of buttery, fruity, and sweet

• ✅ Uses pantry staples and canned cherry pie filling (or homemade if you prefer!)

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🍰 Cherry Pie Bars Recipe

Servings: 12–16 bars
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 30–35 minutes
Cooling Time: 20 minutes

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🛒 Ingredients:

For the Dough:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

• 1¾ cups granulated sugar

• 4 large eggs

• 1½ tsp vanilla extract

• ½ tsp almond extract (optional but highly recommended!)

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• ½ tsp salt

For the Filling:

• 1 (21 oz) can cherry pie filling (or about 2½ cups homemade)

For the Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 1–2 tbsp milk

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

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👩‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Preheat & Prep

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal.

2. Make the Dough

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and almond extract.

Gradually mix in the flour and salt until a soft dough forms.

3. Assemble the Bars

• Spread 2/3 of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.

• Spoon the cherry pie filling over the dough, spreading it to the edges.

• Drop small spoonfuls of the remaining dough on top of the cherry layer — it doesn’t need to fully cover it; some cherries should peek through.

4. Bake

Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and the filling is bubbling. Let cool completely before glazing.

5. Glaze and Serve

Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled bars, let set for a few minutes, then slice into squares or rectangles.

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🍽️ Serving Suggestions:

• Serve warm with vanilla ice cream

• Enjoy chilled for a firmer texture

• Perfect for picnics, bake sales, or lunchbox treats

• Wrap individual bars for grab-and-go desserts

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💡 Tips & Variations:

• Make it homemade: You can use fresh or frozen cherries to make your own pie filling if you prefer a less-sweet version.

• Try other fillings: This recipe works beautifully with blueberry, peach, or apple pie filling too!

• Add nuts: Sprinkle chopped almonds or pecans over the top before baking for extra crunch.

• Almond lovers: Double the almond extract for an extra aromatic twist.

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🌟 Final Thoughts

These Cherry Pie Bars are everything we love about dessert: sweet, simple, and satisfying. They bring the charm of a homemade pie into a more approachable, weekday-friendly format — no rolling pin or pastry skills required.

Whether you're baking for a family gathering, a potluck, or just a Tuesday night treat, this recipe is a guaranteed hit. Slice, serve, and watch them disappear!