These Christmas Cherry Bars are everything you love about holiday baking—soft, buttery, colorful, and bursting with sweet cherry goodness. They’re the perfect addition to a Christmas cookie tray, a thoughtful homemade gift, or a cozy dessert to enjoy with a mug of hot coffee.
The vibrant cherry filling peeks through a golden, tender crust, creating a treat that looks just as magical as it tastes. Easy to make, beautifully festive, and guaranteed to brighten any celebration!
⭐ Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional but highly recommended)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For the cherry layer:
- 1 (21 oz / ~600 g) can cherry pie filling
Optional: homemade cherry filling or chopped maraschino cherries also work great.
For the optional glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons milk
- 1/4 teaspoon almond or vanilla extract
🎅 Instructions
1. Make the crust
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Stir in the vanilla and (optional) almond extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until a soft dough forms.
2. Assemble the bars
- Spread about 2/3 of the dough evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan.
- Spoon the cherry pie filling over the dough, spreading it to the edges.
- Drop small spoonfuls of the remaining dough across the top — the cherry filling will peek through beautifully once baked.
3. Bake
- Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and the dough tests clean with a toothpick.
- Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan.
4. Optionally: Add the glaze
- Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and extract until smooth.
- Drizzle over the fully cooled bars.
- Let the glaze set before slicing into squares or rectangles.
🎁 Storage Tips
- Room temperature: 3–4 days in an airtight container
- Refrigerated: up to 1 week
- Freezer: freeze unglazed bars for up to 2 months
🌟 Tips for Perfect Christmas Cherry Bars
- Almond extract brings out the cherry flavor beautifully — don’t skip it if you can help it!
- Make sure the bars are completely cool before glazing or slicing.
- Feel free to mix in white chocolate chips, slivered almonds, or coconut to the dough for extra flair.
