Ingredients:
For the Crust and Topping:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Filling:
- 2 cups cherry pie filling (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 teaspoon pure almond extract
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
- Powdered sugar (for dusting, optional)
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Reserve about 1 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture for the topping. Press the remaining crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of the greased baking pan to form the crust.
- In another bowl, mix the cherry pie filling, pure almond extract, lemon juice, and lemon zest (if using).
- Spread the cherry filling mixture evenly over the crust in the baking pan.
- Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture evenly over the cherry filling, creating a crumbly topping.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
- Remove the Cherry Pie Bars from the oven and let them cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- Once cooled, refrigerate the bars for at least 2 hours or until they are fully chilled and set.
- After chilling, cut the bars into squares.
- Dust the bars with powdered sugar, if desired, for a touch of sweetness and presentation.
- Serve your Cherry Pie Bars as a delightful dessert that captures the essence of cherry pie in every bite!
- Enjoy the combination of buttery crust, sweet cherry filling, and crumbly topping!
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Baking Time: 45-50 minutes Chilling Time: 2 hours Total Time: Approximately 3 hours and 5 minutes Servings: About 24 bars