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Cherry Bars

These fresh Cherry Bars have a buttery shortbread type crust and delicious cherries in every bite. These bars melt in your mouth and are made with simple ingredients.

This dessert is made from scratch and all the ingredients are easy-to-find kitchen pantry ingredients. If you love cherry recipes you might also like this cherry cinnamon roll recipe which is a perfect breakfast treat.

Three Cherry Bars stacked together on plate.

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These delicious cherry bars are made with fresh cherries. You can use sour cherries or sweet cherries or a combination of both. These are so good served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

If you are looking for a easy budget-friendly cherry dessert try these Cherry Pie Bars that use a can of cherry pie filling.

Ingredients

See printable recipe card below for all ingredients, specific measurements, and complete instructions.

Ingredients to make Cherry Bars set out on counter.
  • Flour - This recipes calls for all-purpose flour. You will scoop and dump into the measuring cup to ensure the measuring doesn't pack too much. Then level off the top.
  • Sugar - Granulated sugar is used to sweeten the bars. You will find it melts down and sweetens the shortbread perfectly.
  • Baking Powder - This is the leavening agent for the bars. Make sure your powder has not expired.
  • Salt - Salt is a must-have ingredient as it creates dimension and brings out the flavors of the ingredients.
  • Butter - Use real butter and not margarine for this recipe. Soften the butter before using.
  • Egg - Room temperature eggs work best for baking.
  • Vanilla - A little splash of vanilla is going to really deepen the flavors of each ingredient.
  • Cherries - Pitted cherries are what you need. Make sure they are ripe as it will help ensure the sweetness of the pie filling.
  • Cornstarch - Cornstarch is used for thickening the cherry mixture, without altering the flavor.
  • Lemon Juice - A splash of fresh lemon juice is needed for the cherry pie filling.

Variations To Recipe

  • You can use a store-bought pie filling instead of making homemade pie filling.
  • Once the bars are done, dust with powdered sugar for a simple way to dress up the bars.
  • Instead of cherries use blueberries, peaches, blackberries or a mix of berries.
  • Make an easy glaze to drizzle on top of the cherry bars. Add 1/2 cup of powdered sugar to a bowl and 1to 2 tablespoons of milk. Whisk well and then drizzle over the cherry bars.
  • Sprinkle on some slivered almonds for a nice crunch factor.

How To Make Cherry Bars

  1. Preheat and Prep Pan: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then grease your 9x9 pan and set aside.
Cherries, cornstarch, sugar, and lemon juice in mixing bowl.
  1. Cherry Filling: Make the cherry filling. Mix together your cherries, cornstarch, sugar, and lemon juice together in bowl. Set aside while you make the crust.
Flour, sugar, baking powder and salt added to glass mixing bowl.
Butter, eggs and vanilla added to dry ingredients in glass mixing bowl.
  1. Dry Ingredients: Add your dry ingredients; flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into a bowl and stir.
  2. Wet Ingredients: Mix the egg, butter, and vanilla until crumbled. Make sure your butter is nice and soft so that it blends easily with the other ingredients. Don't overmix the dough. Stir just until ingredients are combined.
Crust dough in glass mixing bowl.
Crust dough pressed into bottom of baking pan.
  1. Press Dough Into Pan: Firmly press two thirds of the crust dough into bottom of the pan.
Cherry filling poured over crust dough in baking pan.
Dough topping added to cherry bars in baking pan.
  1. Assemble: Pour the cherries over the dough in pan. Then add the rest of the dough in small pieces on top of the cherries.
  2. Bake: Bake as directed and once done, allow it to cool.
Baked Cherry Bars cooling in baking pan.

How To Store Cherry Bars

Refrigerate any of the bars you do not eat right away. Place it in a airtight container in a single layer for up to 3 days. If you need to stack them place parchment paper between them to prevent them from sticking together. Serve leftovers chilled or warm in the microwave or the oven.

Cherry Bars Baking Tips

  • Make sure you press the bottom crust dough firmly into the pan so you get a firm texture for the crust and not crumbles.
  • To pit the cherries push the pit out the stem side of the cherry.
  • I don't like to overwork the dough so I mix everything by hand. You can use an electric mixer if you prefer.
  • To accurately measure flour I like to spoon it into a dry measuring cup instead of scooping the flour with the measuring cup. Then level off any excess with the smooth edge of a butter knife.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use frozen cherries to make these bars?

Yes you can. If fresh cherries are not in season you can use frozen cherries. And most frozen cherries already have the pits removed so that saves you a step.

Do I wash cherries before or after pitting?

Wash and remove the stem first and then pit the cherries.

Can I use gluten-free flour to make cherry bars?

I have not used gluten-free flour to make these. You should be able to substitute gluten-free flour in a 1:1 ratio. Make sure to check the gluten-free flour you are using to make sure it can be used as a one-to-one swap with regular flour.

Cherry Bars cooling on wire rack.

If you like cooking with berries and fruit here are a few fruit filled recipes to try.

I hope you enjoy these Cherry Bars with fresh cherries! If you try this recipe, please come back and rate it and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from you!

Three Cherry Bars stacked together on plate.

Cherry Bars Recipe

Author: Judy Wilson
These fresh Cherry Bars are a shortbread-style bar that has sweet cherries in every bite and a sweet glaze drizzled on top. 
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 174 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1⅓ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup butter (softened)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 cups cherries (washed, pitted and sliced in half)
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 2 Tablepsoons granulated sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, stir cherries, cornstarch, 2 Tablespoons sugar, and lemon juice together and set aside.
  • Add the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt to a large mixing bowl and stir to combine.
  • Next add in the softened butter, egg, and vanilla and mix with a fork until combined and crumbly.
  • Spread ⅔ of crust dough mixture into the bottom of the baking pan and press evenly in the bottom of the pan with your fingers or a spatula.
  • Pour cherry mixture on top of crust dough.
  • Add the remaining dough in small pieces on top of the cherries.
  • Bake in the center of the oven for 30 minutes, until crust begins to brown.
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool. Then cut into bars and serve.

Notes

Refrigerate any of the bars you do not eat right away. Place it in a airtight container for up to 3 days. 

Nutrition

Calories: 174kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 124mgPotassium: 77mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 271IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg
The nutritional information provided is approximate and should only be used as a general guideline. It is an estimate that will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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