Description
These Cherry Pie Bars are a perfect blend of buttery, flaky crust and sweet, tangy cherry filling, all in bar form! With a crumbly top and a rich cherry center, these bars are a simple yet irresistible dessert. They’re great for serving a crowd or enjoying at home with a cup of coffee or tea.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crust and Topping:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
- 1 egg (for the crust dough)
For the Cherry Filling:
- 1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling (or homemade cherry filling)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (if using fresh cherries)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (if using fresh cherries)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Make the crust dough: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the cold cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or your fingers to blend until the mixture becomes crumbly and the butter is well incorporated. Add the egg and mix until a dough forms.
- Press the dough into the pan: Take about 2/3 of the dough and press it into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, forming an even layer.
- Prepare the cherry filling: If using fresh cherries, mix the cherries with cornstarch and lemon juice in a separate bowl. If using canned cherry pie filling, you can skip this step. Pour the cherry filling over the crust in the baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
- Top the bars: Crumble the remaining dough over the cherry filling to form a crumbly topping.
- Bake: Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. If the top starts to brown too quickly, cover the pan loosely with foil and continue baking.
- Cool and serve: Let the bars cool completely in the pan before cutting them into squares. For extra flavor, you can dust the cooled bars with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute the cherry pie filling with other fruit pie fillings like blueberry or strawberry for a different variation.
- If using fresh cherries, you can cook them down with sugar to make your own filling.
- These bars are best enjoyed within 2-3 days, but they can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American