These Cherry Bars are a timeless dessert—soft, buttery bars layered with sweet-tart cherry filling and finished with a light glaze or dusting of powdered sugar. They’re easy to make, easy to slice, and always a hit at potlucks, holidays, or casual get-togethers. Think cherry pie meets sugar cookie bar—simple, nostalgic, and delicious.
Why You’ll Love These Cherry Bars
- Soft, tender cookie-like base
- Bright cherry flavor in every bite
- Simple pantry ingredients
- Perfect for sharing and gifting
- Even better the next day
Ingredients
For the Bars
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1½ cups sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling
Optional Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp milk
- ½ tsp vanilla or almond extract
How to Make Cherry Bars
1. Preheat
Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F).
Grease or line a 9×13-inch (23×33 cm) baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Make the Batter
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla.
In a separate bowl, whisk flour, salt, and baking powder. Gradually mix into the wet ingredients until combined.
3. Assemble
Spread about ⅔ of the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
Spoon cherry pie filling evenly over the batter.
Drop small spoonfuls of the remaining batter over the cherries.
4. Bake
Bake for 35–40 minutes, until lightly golden and set in the center.
5. Cool & Glaze
Let bars cool completely.
Drizzle with glaze or dust with powdered sugar.
Tips for Perfect Cherry Bars
- Don’t overmix the batter
- Let cool fully before slicing
- Almond extract pairs beautifully with cherries
- Use parchment for easy removal
Storage
- Store covered at room temperature up to 2 days
- Refrigerate up to 5 days
- Freeze slices up to 2 months
Final Thought
These Cherry Bars are soft, sweet, and delightfully nostalgic—the kind of dessert that never goes out of style. Simple to make, easy to love, and guaranteed to disappear fast.