Cherry Bars With Cherry Pie Filling Easy Wellplated Com

I’ve been holding out on you. Remember when I told you all the different ways you can use this easy Cherry Pie Filling? I left out the best one of all: cherry bars. Can you blame me for wanting to keep these easy cherry bars to myself? Just look at that drippy glaze (similar to the one used on these Strawberry Oatmeal Bars), crunchy almonds, and juicy homemade cherry pie filling!

The base and topping of these cherry bars come together in a single bowl and are a cross between a buttery shortbread cookie, a fluffy, moist Buttermilk Cake, and oatmeal crumble.The inner layer of these cherry bars is my homemade cherry pie filling. It’s naturally sweetened, so these are about as close to healthy cherry bars as possible.A sweet almond glaze adds the perfect amount of sweetness to counter the tartness of the cherries.

Sturdy enough to pick up with your fingers (like Blueberry Oatmeal Bars), but light and moist enough to melt right on your tongue, this cherry squares recipe is a cherry shortcake in a more portable form.

How to Make the BEST Cherry Bars

Made with homemade or store-bought cherry pie filling and topped with the most tender, flaky crust and topping, you may want to go ahead and make a double batch. These easy cherry bars will not last long!

The Ingredients

Cherry Pie Filling. I like to use my favorite homemade Cherry Pie Filling for this recipe, but you can use any recipe or store-bought variety you enjoy. You’ll need a total of about 2 cups (which, conveniently, is what one batch of my recipe yields).

Sugar. Perfectly sweetens the crust and topping, and helps it turn golden in the oven.Flour. Whole wheat pastry flour is my secret to making these healthy cherry bars—or healthy-ish at least.

Butter. Adds richness and tenderness to the shortbread-like crust and topping.Eggs. Soften the crust and give it structure and stability.Vanilla. For an extra layer of flavor that complements and enhances the cherries.Almonds. Provide a little crunch and contrasting texture. (I also love adding almonds to this Easy Strawberry Cake.)Glaze. A simple blend of milk, powdered sugar, and almond extract is the perfect sweet finish to these cherry bars.

The Directions

Storage Tips

To Store. Store leftover cherry bars in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.To Freeze. Wrap individually in plastic and freeze for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator.To Reheat. You can enjoy these cherry bars straight from the fridge. However, they’re also tasty warmed in the microwave for 10-15 seconds too.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Cherry Pitter. A life-changing kitchen tool everyone should own.8-Inch Baking Pan. For many years, this one has been my go-to for making bar recipes of all kinds.Off-Set Spatula. The BEST for spreading batter evenly, especially layered desserts like this one.

Hurry and make these bars while fresh cherry season lasts!