Christmas Cherry Bars – Page 2

Festive & Colorful: The vibrant cherry topping adds a pop of red that looks perfect on any holiday dessert tray.
Easy to Make: Simple ingredients and straightforward steps mean you can whip these up in no time.
Perfect Texture: Buttery shortbread crust, soft and chewy center, and a fruity topping that’s sweet but not overpowering.
Feeds a Crowd: Cut into squares or bars, they’re ideal for sharing at parties or gifting to neighbors and friends.

For the Base and Topping:

For Decoration (optional):

Preheat the oven:
Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 15×10-inch jelly roll pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
Make the batter:
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla and almond extracts.
Add the dry ingredients:
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until fully combined.
Assemble the bars:
Spread about two-thirds of the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Spoon the cherry pie filling over the batter, spreading gently to cover. Drop small spoonfuls of the remaining batter over the cherry layer — it doesn’t need to be perfect; a rustic look adds charm!
Bake:
Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the edges are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool and serve:
Let the bars cool completely before cutting into squares. Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with melted white chocolate for a festive touch.

Use almond extract: It pairs beautifully with cherries and gives these bars that classic holiday flavor.
Don’t overbake: The bars should stay soft and slightly chewy in the center.
Make ahead: These bars store well in an airtight container for up to 5 days — perfect for prepping ahead of the holiday rush.
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