The Best Cherry Delight Bars Recipe for Sweet Dessert Lovers

Sweet cherry delight bars offer a tantalizing blend of fruity richness and buttery comfort that crafts ordinary desserts into extraordinary moments.

These delectable treats combine classic bakery techniques with vibrant seasonal ingredients that dance across your palate.

The delicate balance between tart cherries and smooth, creamy textures creates an irresistible sensation you can’t help but crave.

Homemade goodness radiates from each carefully crafted square, promising a nostalgic experience that connects generations through shared culinary joy.

Soft, crumbly layers meld with bright fruit notes, delivering a dessert that feels both familiar and excitingly fresh.

Elegant yet approachable, these bars represent the perfect marriage of simplicity and sophistication in baking.

Prepare to indulge in a recipe that will become your new favorite crowd-pleasing dessert.

Why Cherry Bars Are Always a Good Idea

• Burst with Fruity Goodness: These cherry delight bars pack a punch of sweet, vibrant cherry flavor that dances on your taste buds with every single bite.
• Effortlessly Elegant Dessert: The recipe offers a simple yet sophisticated approach to baking, making it perfect for home bakers who want to impress without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Texture Sensation: Enjoy a delightful contrast between the soft, tender base, the gooey cherry filling, and the crisp, drizzled glaze that adds a perfect finishing touch.
• Quick and Crowd-Pleasing Treat: Whip up these bars in under an hour, creating a dessert that's guaranteed to make everyone at the gathering smile and ask for seconds.

What’s Inside Cherry Dessert Bars

• Butter: Provides rich, creamy base for the bar's texture and adds delicious flavor.
• Sugar: Sweetens the dessert and helps create a tender, golden crust.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness of the bars.

• Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and contribute to the bar's structure.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, classic bakery flavor to the dessert.
• Almond Extract: Provides a subtle, nutty background note to complement the cherries.

• Flour: Creates the fundamental structure and crumb of the cherry bars.
• Cherry Pie Filling: Delivers the primary fruit flavor and moisture to the dessert.
• Powdered Sugar: Forms the smooth, sweet glaze for topping the bars.
• Milk: Adjusts the glaze consistency and helps blend the sugar.

Bake Cherry Bars with Ease

Step 1: Prepare Oven and Pan

Warm up the oven to 350°F. Coat a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with grease to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Create Creamy Base

In a large mixing bowl, blend softened butter, sugar, and salt until the mixture becomes light and airy.

Step 3: Incorporate Eggs

Gently add eggs one at a time, thoroughly mixing after each addition to create a smooth texture.

Step 4: Add Flavor Enhancers

Stir in vanilla and almond extracts to give the dough a rich, delightful taste.

Step 5: Mix Dry Ingredients

Slowly fold in flour, stirring until ingredients are completely combined.

Step 6: Layer First Dough Base

Spread of dough evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking pan.

Step 7: Add Cherry Filling

Generously spread cherry pie filling over the initial dough layer.

Step 8: Top with Remaining Dough

Delicately drop spoonfuls of remaining dough across the cherry filling.

Step 9: Bake to Perfection

Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until the top turns golden brown.

Step 10: Cool and Rest

Remove from oven and let the bars cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 11: Create Glaze

• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Almond extract
• Milk (add gradually to reach desired consistency)

Step 12: Finish with Glaze

Drizzle the prepared glaze over the cooled cherry bars, creating a delectable finishing touch.

Tips for Sweet and Tangy Cherry Bars

• Choose Ripe, Flavorful Cherries: Select high-quality cherry pie filling or fresh cherries at peak ripeness for the most vibrant, sweet taste in your bars.
• Perfectly Cream Butter: Ensure butter is softened at room temperature and beat thoroughly until light and fluffy for a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Distribute Dough Evenly: Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the dough uniformly across the pan, creating a consistent base and topping.
• Test for Golden Perfection: Watch the bars closely during the last 5 minutes of baking to achieve a beautiful golden-brown top without overcooking.
• Glaze with Precision: Drizzle the powdered sugar glaze in a zigzag pattern for an elegant finish, letting it set slightly before serving to enhance presentation.

Save and Reheat Cherry Bars Effortlessly

• Store the Cherry Delight Bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, ensuring they remain fresh and delicious. Refrigerate the bars for extended freshness, keeping them sealed tightly to prevent moisture loss and maintain their soft texture. Gently reheat individual servings in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to restore their warm, comforting taste, or enjoy them chilled straight from the refrigerator for a delightful treat.

What to Serve with Cherry Bars

• Pair with Chilled Almond Milk: Complement the almond extract's nutty flavor with a cool, creamy glass of almond milk that enhances the cherry bar's sweet and tangy profile.
• Serve with Light Vanilla Roasted Coffee: Brew a smooth vanilla-roasted coffee that balances the rich, fruity dessert and provides a warm contrast to the sweet cherry bars.
• Match with Sparkling White Wine: Choose a slightly sweet Moscato or Riesling that cuts through the dessert's richness and highlights the cherry's bright, fresh notes.
• Enjoy with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Add a scoop of creamy vanilla bean ice cream alongside the bars to create a decadent, temperature-contrasting dessert experience that amplifies the almond and cherry flavors.

Twist Up Your Cherry Bar Flavor

• Berry Bliss Bars: Swap cherry pie filling with a vibrant mixed berry compote, combining strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries for a colorful and tangy version of the classic dessert.
• Tropical Paradise Bars: Replace cherry filling with mango or passion fruit preserves, adding a hint of coconut extract to the base dough for a summery, exotic flavor profile.
• Chocolate Cherry Dream: Incorporate cocoa powder into the base dough and use dark chocolate chips sprinkled between the layers for a rich, decadent interpretation of the original recipe.
• Nutty Almond Cherry Crunch: Mix chopped almonds into the dough and sprinkle sliced almonds on top before baking, enhancing the existing almond extract with a delightful textural element.

Cherry Delight Bars Recipe

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4.6 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Sweet Cherry Delight Bars blend nostalgic Midwestern charm with luscious fruit flavors. Layers of buttery crust, rich cream cheese filling, and ruby-red cherry topping promise a delightful dessert you’ll savor with pure pleasure.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cans (21 ounces each) cherry pie filling

Flavor Enhancers:

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon salt

Finishing Ingredients:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
• 2–3 tablespoons milk

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Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and prepare a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with a light coating of butter or non-stick spray.
2. In a spacious mixing bowl, whip the softened butter, granulated sugar, and salt until the mixture becomes airy and voluminous, creating a smooth texture.
3. Incorporate eggs individually into the butter mixture, thoroughly blending after each addition to ensure a uniform consistency.
4. Gently fold in the vanilla and almond extracts, distributing the flavors evenly throughout the batter.
5. Gradually introduce the flour into the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined without overmixing.
6. Carefully spread of the prepared dough as an even base layer across the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
7. Distribute the cherry pie filling uniformly over the initial dough layer, creating a vibrant fruity surface.
8. Delicately scatter the remaining dough in small dollops across the cherry filling, creating a rustic, textured appearance.
9. Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, watching for a golden-brown top that indicates proper doneness.
10. Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely on a wire rack within the pan, ensuring stability and even cooling.
11. Prepare the glaze by whisking powdered sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract, and milk until achieving a smooth, drizzle-friendly consistency.
12. Once cooled, elegantly drizzle the glaze over the cherry bars, creating an appealing final presentation.

Notes

• Elevate this classic dessert by using high-quality pure vanilla and almond extracts for a richer, more complex flavor profile.
• Ensure butter is at room temperature for smoother creaming and better incorporation with other ingredients.
• Line the baking pan with parchment paper for easier removal and cleanup of the bars.
• Check doneness by looking for a golden-brown top and slightly firm edges that pull away from the pan sides.
• Allow bars to cool completely before glazing to prevent the sugar drizzle from melting and becoming runny.
• For a professional finish, use a squeeze bottle or piping bag to create an elegant glaze pattern across the bars.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 453 kcal
• Sugar: 48 g
• Sodium: 172 mg
• Fat: 21 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 62 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 95 mg