Delicious Cherry Pie Bars
Cherry pie lovers, this one's for you! These cherry pie bars give you all the cozy, fruity goodness of classic cherry pie—without the fuss of rolling out a crust. With a buttery base, sweet cherry filling, and a crumbly topping, these bars are perfect for dessert tables, potlucks, or just a sweet treat at home.
Ingredients
For the Crust and Topping:
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Filling:
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional, but brightens the flavor)
Optional for Serving:
Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven
Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper for easier cleanup.
2. Make the dough
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the softened butter, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix with a hand mixer or pastry cutter until the mixture is crumbly but sticks together when pressed.
3. Press the crust
Reserve about 1 ½ cups of the dough for the topping. Press the remaining dough evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking dish to form the crust.
4. Add the cherry layer
Spread the cherry pie filling evenly over the crust. If using lemon juice, drizzle it over the cherries for a bit of zing.
5. Crumble the topping
Sprinkle the reserved dough over the top of the cherry layer. Crumble it evenly to give the bars a golden, crisp topping.
6. Bake
Place the pan in the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden and the filling is bubbling around the edges.
7. Cool and serve
Let the bars cool completely in the pan before slicing. Dust with powdered sugar if desired. Slice into squares and serve.
Tips & Variations
Butter Tip: Need softened butter in a pinch? Cube it and microwave in short bursts until just soft—not melted.
Fruit Swap: Try other pie fillings like blueberry, apple, or peach for a fun twist.
Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temp, or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
