Cherry Bars Recipe

Introduction

Some desserts feel like a warm hug, and Cherry Bars are exactly that. I remember the first time I tasted them—it was at a summer church picnic in Illinois. Tables were filled with all sorts of potluck dishes, but one tray stood out: golden bars topped with glistening cherries and drizzled with sweet glaze. The moment I bit into one, I was hooked. Buttery, soft crust with just the right balance of sweetness, paired with the tartness of cherries—it was pure magic.

These bars have that nostalgic, homemade vibe that makes you think of family gatherings, bake sales, and cozy Sunday afternoons. What I love most about them is how simple they are to prepare. With pantry staples like butter, sugar, flour, and canned cherry pie filling, you can create a dessert that looks fancy but comes together in no time.

And if you’re someone who loves nostalgic bakes, you might also enjoy this comforting Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings Recipe—a savory classic to balance out the sweetness.

Ingredients for Cherry Bars

For the Bars

• 1 ½ cups butter, softened

• 3 cups granulated sugar

• 1 ½ teaspoons salt

• 5 large eggs

• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

• 1 ½ teaspoons almond extract

• 5 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

• 2 cans cherry pie filling (21 oz each)

For the Glaze

• 1 cup confectioner’s sugar

• 3 tablespoons milk

Directions for Cherry Bars

1. Preheat the Oven & Prep the Pan
   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12×17-inch jelly roll pan with aluminum foil and spray lightly with nonstick spray.

2. Make the Dough
   In a stand mixer, cream together softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 1–2 minutes). Add salt, eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Mix until fully incorporated.

3. Add the Dry Ingredients
   Slowly add in the flour and baking powder. Mix until just combined—don’t overmix, or the dough will be tough.

4. Assemble the Bars
   Reserve 1 ¾ cups of the dough. Press the remaining dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the cherry pie filling evenly on top. Drop small pieces of the reserved dough over the cherries.

5. Bake
   Bake for 50–60 minutes, until the top is golden brown.

6. Cool & Glaze
   Let the bars cool completely on a wire rack. In a small bowl, whisk confectioner’s sugar and milk until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled bars.

7. Cut & Serve
   Slice into about 35 squares. Serve and enjoy!

Tips & Variations: Cherry Bars

• Nutty Twist: Add 1 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans into the dough for extra crunch.

• Extra Fruity: Swap one can of cherry filling for blueberry or raspberry for a mixed berry version.

• Glaze Variations: Add a drop of almond extract to the glaze for extra flavor.

• Cheesecake Style: Spread a thin cream cheese layer between the crust and cherries for a cheesecake-inspired bar.

• Party Pairing: Serve alongside this refreshing Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad for a well-balanced menu.

Storage for Cherry Bars

• Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

• Refrigerator: Lasts up to 5 days (slightly firmer texture).

• Freezer: Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap, place in a freezer bag, and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Time & Yield

• Prep Time: 20 minutes

• Cook Time: 55 minutes

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

• Yield: 35 squares

Tools Used

• 12×17-inch jelly roll pan

• Stand mixer (or hand mixer + mixing bowls)

• Spatula

• Aluminum foil

• Whisk

FAQ

Q1: Can I make Cherry Bars with fresh cherries?
Yes! Just cook down fresh cherries with sugar and cornstarch to make your own filling.

Q2: Can I use other pie fillings?
Definitely—blueberry, apple, or raspberry fillings work beautifully in this recipe.

Q3: Can I cut the recipe in half?
Yes, use a 9×13-inch pan and cut the recipe in half for about 18 bars.

Final Thoughts: Cherry Bars

These Cherry Bars are everything you want in a dessert—sweet, buttery, fruity, and nostalgic. They bring back memories of family picnics, bake sales, and homemade treats fresh from the oven. What makes them truly special is how easy they are to prepare, yet how impressive they look when served.

If you’re craving more fruity desserts, check out Delish’s collection of fruit dessert recipes. From pies to bars, you’ll find plenty of inspiration to keep your baking list full.

Cherry Bars

A buttery crust topped with cherry pie filling and drizzled with sweet glaze—these Cherry Bars are an easy, nostalgic dessert perfect for any occasion.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 55 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 220

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• For the Bars
• 1 ½ cups butter softened
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 ½ tsp salt
• 5 large eggs
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 ½ tsp almond extract
• 5 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• 2 cans cherry pie filling 21 oz each
• For the Glaze
• 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
• 3 tbsp milk

Equipment

• 12×17-inch jelly roll pan
• Stand mixer
• - Spatula
• Aluminum foil
• - Whisk

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12×17-inch pan with foil, spray with nonstick spray.
2. Cream butter and sugar. Add salt, eggs, vanilla, almond extract. Mix well.
3. Add flour and baking powder until just combined.
4. Reserve 1 ¾ cups dough. Press remaining into pan. Spread cherry filling evenly. Drop dough pieces on top.
5. Bake 50–60 minutes until golden.
6. Cool completely. Mix glaze ingredients and drizzle over bars.
7. Cut into squares and serve.

Notes

Try mixing cherry with blueberry for variety.

For a cheesecake version, add a cream cheese layer under the cherries.

Store at room temperature up to 3 days.