Cherry Pie Bars with Almond Glaze Recipe
Okay, let me tell you about these incredible Cherry Pie Bars with Almond Glaze Recipe that have absolutely won my heart (and my stomach!) over the years. If you love that classic cherry pie flavor but want something a little easier to handle—like bars you can grab with your hands—this recipe is your new best friend. The buttery crust paired with luscious cherry filling and that dreamy almond glaze? Seriously, it’s a fan-freaking-tastic combo you’re gonna want to make again and again.
Why This Recipe Works
- Perfect balance of texture: The crust is tender and buttery, yet sturdy enough to hold all that juicy cherry filling without getting soggy.
- Easy to prep: No fiddly pie crust shaping here—just simple mixing and layering, making it so approachable for any skill level.
- Almond glaze magic: The subtle almond flavor in the glaze elevates the sweetness and adds a delicious nutty depth that keeps you coming back for more.
- Great make-ahead dessert: These bars keep beautifully chilled or at room temp, perfect for entertaining or keeping on hand for late-night cravings.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The magic of these Cherry Pie Bars with Almond Glaze Recipe really lies in the harmony of simple, well-chosen ingredients. Each element contributes to the flavor, texture, and that classic cherry pie feel we all love.
- Unsalted butter: Make sure it’s softened but not melted—it helps achieve that tender, crumbly crust that’s the base of these bars.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens perfectly without overpowering, balancing with the tart cherry filling.
- Eggs: Acts as the binding agent for the dough and gives the bars structure and richness.
- Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and depth to the flavor without overshadowing the cherries.
- Almond extract: A small splash in both the batter and glaze brings a subtle nutty aroma that’s simply irresistible.
- All-purpose flour: The foundation of the crust – use regular all-purpose for the best texture.
- Salt: Just a pinch to perfectly enhance all the flavors and prevent sweetness from feeling flat.
- Cherry pie filling: Two cans of classic filling deliver that juicy, thick cherry goodness in every bite. Don’t skip on this!
- Powdered sugar: Perfect for that smooth, slightly thicker glaze that drapes wonderfully over the bars.
- Milk: Just enough to thin out the glaze so it’s drizzle-friendly but still rich.
Tweak to Your Taste
I love that this recipe lends itself to some fun personal twists. Sometimes I like to sneak in a handful of chopped almonds on top before baking for a little crunch, or swap out some of the cherry filling for raspberry for a tart surprise. Feel free to play around and make these bars your own!
- Variation: Once, I swapped the cherry pie filling for blueberry and added lemon zest in the batter—totally delicious and gave a fresh citrus pop.
- Dietary modification: You can try using gluten-free flour blend for a GF version, just know the texture might be a bit different but still tasty.
- Difficulty tweak: If you’re short on time, use pre-made pie crust dough for the base, though I find homemade batter here tastes richer and more buttery.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Cherry Pie Bars with Almond Glaze Recipe
Step 1: Prep and Cream Like a Pro
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and greasing a 9×13 inch baking pan. Then grab your softened butter and granulated sugar and cream them together really well—this step sets up the texture for your bars. Be patient here; you want it light and fluffy. Once that’s ready, add in the eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly, followed by vanilla and almond extracts for that signature flavor boost.
Step 2: Mixing Dry Ingredients and Combining
In a separate bowl, whisk together your flour and salt so they’re evenly mixed. Slowly add this dry mix into your creamed butter and sugar, folding gently until just combined. Don’t overmix here—you want to keep the batter tender and flaky.
Step 3: Layering and Dolloping the Batter
Spread about three cups of the batter evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan. Next, carefully spread the cherry pie filling on top—don’t worry about making it perfect, just cover it evenly. Now here’s my favorite part: with the remaining batter, drop spoonfuls dolloped all over the top. They won’t cover fully, but that’s how you get those charming rustic bars with cherry peeking through.
Step 4: Bake and Glaze to Perfection
Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean and the bars develop a light golden crust. For a different pan size, adjust time accordingly; I’ve found 30 minutes works for shallower pans. Once cooled completely, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla, almond extract, and milk to create your glaze. Drizzle generously over the bars—you can be as artful or casual as you like!
Pro Tips for Making Cherry Pie Bars with Almond Glaze Recipe
- Butter consistency: Always use softened butter, never melted, to keep the dough texture just right.
- Cherry filling balance: Don’t overload the cherry pie filling or it might seep too much, making bars soggy.
- Cooling patience: Wait until bars are completely cool before glazing to avoid melting the drizzle into the crust.
- Dolloping technique: Drop several small spoonfuls of batter rather than one big blob to get that classic rustic appearance and even baking.
How to Serve Cherry Pie Bars with Almond Glaze Recipe
Garnishes
I like to keep it simple here—sometimes just a light dusting of powdered sugar if I’m feeling fancy. Other times, a few toasted almond slices sprinkled over the glaze add a beautiful crunch and a little extra almond punch which pairs wonderfully with the bars.
Side Dishes
These bars are dessert all on their own, but I love serving them alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for extra indulgence. For a brunch spread, they pair nicely with fresh berries and a pot of coffee.
Creative Ways to Present
For a party, I like to cut the bars into bite-sized squares and arrange them on a pretty platter with sprigs of mint for color. Another fun idea is layering a few bars between parchment paper in a pretty box as a homemade gift—it always impresses!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover cherry pie bars in an airtight container in the fridge. They stay moist and actually seem to develop better flavor the next day! Just bring to room temperature before serving.
Freezing
You can freeze these bars wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and foil for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and refresh the glaze just before serving.
Reheating
For a warm treat, pop a bar in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or into a 325°F oven for about 10 minutes until warmed through—just be careful not to melt the glaze too much.
FAQs
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Can I use fresh cherries instead of canned cherry pie filling?
Fresh cherries would be delicious but could make the bars soggy since the canned pie filling is thicker and gelled. If you want to try fresh, cook them down with sugar and a bit of cornstarch until thickened before using.
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What can I substitute for almond extract if I don’t have any?
If you don’t have almond extract, you can omit it or replace with an equal amount of vanilla extract. The flavor won’t be quite the same, but still delicious.
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Can I make smaller batches of this recipe?
Absolutely! Just halve the ingredients and use an 8×8-inch pan instead. Keep an eye on the bake time, as it’ll likely reduce by 10-15 minutes.
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How do I know when the bars are done baking?
Look for a lightly golden top and insert a toothpick near the center—if it comes out clean (or with just a few moist crumbs), they’re ready!
Final Thoughts
There’s something about these Cherry Pie Bars with Almond Glaze Recipe that just feels like home to me—and I hope once you try them, they’ll feel the same to you. They’re simple enough for weeknight baking but special enough to impress guests or brighten your snack drawer. So go ahead, whip up a batch, share with friends, or simply enjoy a quiet moment with a sweet, cherry bite in your hand. Trust me, you’re going to love every single buttery, cherry-filled, almond-glazed bite.
Print
Cherry Pie Bars with Almond Glaze Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 24 bars
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Delicious Cherry Pie Bars featuring a buttery crust layered with sweet cherry pie filling and topped with a smooth almond-vanilla glaze. Perfect for an easy dessert or snack that offers all the flavors of a classic cherry pie in convenient bar form.
Ingredients
Crust and Batter
- 1 cup softened unsalted butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 (21-ounce) cans cherry pie filling
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan with pan spray and set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla and almond extracts until combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, mixing until just combined to form the batter.
- Assemble Bars: Spread three cups of the batter evenly on the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Evenly spread the cherry pie filling over the batter layer. Drop dollops of the remaining batter evenly over the cherry filling to cover as much as possible.
- Bake: Bake the bars for 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the batter comes out clean and the top is lightly golden brown. If using a 15 x 10-inch pan, bake for about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
- Prepare and Add Glaze: In a bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract, and milk until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cherry bars for a sweet finishing touch.
Notes
- Be sure to cool the bars completely before adding the glaze to prevent it from melting and running off.
- If you prefer a stronger almond flavor, add a bit more almond extract to the glaze or batter but avoid overpowering the cherry flavor.
- Using a 9 x 13-inch pan provides thicker bars; a larger pan will yield thinner bars and slightly reduced baking time.
- You can substitute cherry pie filling with other fruit pie fillings to create different flavored bars.
- To ensure even cooking, use room temperature ingredients when creaming and mixing the batter.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
