Cherry Bars (Print Version)

Ingredients:

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened.
02 - 1 ½ cups granulated sugar.
03 - 4 large eggs.
04 - 1 tsp vanilla extract.
05 - 3 cups all-purpose flour.
06 - 1 tsp baking powder.
07 - ½ tsp salt.
08 - 1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling.
09 - 1 cup powdered sugar.
10 - 2 tbsp milk.
11 - ½ tsp almond extract.

Instructions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 10x15-inch baking pan.
02 - In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
03 - Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
04 - Stir in vanilla extract.
05 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
06 - Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until combined.
07 - Spread about ¾ of the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan. Reserve the remaining dough for the topping.
08 - Spread the cherry pie filling evenly over the dough in the pan.
09 - Drop small spoonfuls of the reserved dough over the cherry filling.
10 - Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
11 - While the bars are baking, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract until smooth.
12 - Once the bars are done baking, let them cool slightly before drizzling the glaze over the top.
13 - Cut into bars once completely cooled and enjoy.

Notes:

01 - Christmas Cherry Bars are a delightful dessert with a buttery base, sweet cherry pie filling, and a light glaze. Perfect for holiday gatherings!.