Crowd-Pleasing Cherry Dessert Bars Everyone Loves
This simple cherry dessert recipe delivers bakery-quality results with minimal effort. Perfect for potlucks, family gatherings, or weekend baking projects, these homemade cherry bars feature layers of buttery cake, fruit filling, and sweet glaze.
What You’ll Need
For the Base:
- 1 cup softened butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
For the Filling:
- 2 cans (21 oz each) cherry pie filling
For the Topping:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 2 tbsp milk
Simple Baking Instructions
Preparation: Heat oven to 350°F. Prepare a 15×10-inch baking sheet with cooking spray.
Make Batter: Blend butter and sugar until creamy. Mix in eggs individually, then add vanilla and almond extracts. Combine flour and salt separately, then fold into wet ingredients.
Layer & Bake: Spread 3 cups batter in pan. Add cherry filling evenly. Dollop remaining batter on top. Bake 30-35 minutes until golden.
Finishing Touch: Cool completely. Whisk together powdered sugar, extracts, and milk. Drizzle over cooled bars.
Why This Recipe Works
The cake-like texture contrasts beautifully with the sweet cherry filling, while almond glaze adds professional polish. These easy dessert bars stay fresh for days and transport easily to events.
Pro Tips: Use room temperature ingredients for best texture. Let bars cool completely before glazing to prevent melting. Cut into 24 squares for perfect portion sizes.
This cherry pie bar recipe proves that impressive desserts don’t require complicated techniques—just quality ingredients and simple steps.