Cherry Pie Bars with Almond Glaze!

🍒 Cherry Pie Bars with Almond Glaze 🍰

These Cherry Pie Bars take everything you love about cherry pie — the buttery crust, sweet filling, and luscious glaze — and turn it into a simple, crowd-pleasing dessert you can hold in your hand! Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or afternoon tea. 💕

🧺 Ingredients

For the Crust

• 1 cup butter, softened 🧈

• 2 cups sugar

• 4 eggs 🥚

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/4 tsp almond extract

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp salt

For the Filling

• 2 cans (21 oz each) cherry pie filling 🍒

For the Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/2 tsp almond extract

• 2 tbsp milk 🥛

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Preheat & Prepare Pan:
   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 15x10x1-inch baking pan or line with parchment paper.

2. Cream Butter & Sugar:
   In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).

3. Add Eggs & Flavor:
   Beat in eggs one at a time. Then add vanilla and almond extracts and mix well.

4. Combine Dry Ingredients:
   In another bowl, whisk flour and salt together. Gradually add to the butter mixture until just combined — do not overmix.

5. Assemble the Bars:
   Spread 3 cups of batter evenly in the prepared pan. Spoon cherry pie filling evenly over the crust. Drop remaining batter by spoonfuls over the filling.

6. Bake:
   Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
   (If using a 9×13-inch pan, bake for 40–45 minutes.)

7. Cool:
   Let bars cool completely on a wire rack before glazing.

8. Prepare the Glaze:
   In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract, and milk until smooth and pourable.

9. Drizzle & Serve:
   Drizzle glaze over the cooled bars. Let it set for 10–15 minutes, then cut into squares and enjoy! 🍒✨

💡 Tips

• Substitute blueberry or apple pie filling for a fun twist!

• Add chopped almonds on top of the glaze for extra crunch.

• Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days.

💬 Q&A

Q1: Can I use homemade cherry pie filling?
✅ Absolutely! Homemade filling adds a fresh, tart flavor — just make sure it’s fully cooled before layering.

Q2: Can I freeze these bars?
✅ Yes! Freeze unglazed bars in airtight containers for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature, then add glaze before serving.

Q3: Can I make them gluten-free?
✅ Substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.

Q4: What’s the best way to cut clean squares?
✅ Chill the baked bars before slicing and use a sharp knife wiped clean between cuts.

Q5: Can I reduce the sugar?
✅ You can reduce sugar in the crust to 1½ cups without affecting texture too much.