I love whipping a tray of these Christmas bars up! Everyone was thrilled by the outcome!

🍒 Festive Cherry Dessert Bars
These festive cherry dessert bars bring together a tender, buttery crust, sweet cherry filling, and a silky almond glaze—making them a perfect treat for the holiday season. Whether you’re hosting a holiday party or just craving something sweet, these bars are a guaranteed hit.

🧁 Ingredients

For the Bars:

Ingredient Amount
Unsalted Butter (softened) 1 cup
Granulated Sugar 2 cups
Salt 1 teaspoon
Large Eggs 4
Vanilla Extract 1 teaspoon
Almond Extract ¼ teaspoon
All-Purpose Flour 3 cups
Cherry Pie Filling 2 cans (21 oz each)
For the Glaze:

Ingredient Amount
Powdered Sugar 1 cup
Vanilla Extract ½ teaspoon
Almond Extract ½ teaspoon
Milk 2–3 tablespoons
🍽️ Instructions
Preheat & Prep:
Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 15x10x1-inch baking pan.
Cream Butter & Sugar:
In a large bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, and salt until the mixture is fluffy and light in color.
Add Eggs & Flavorings:
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla and almond extracts.
Incorporate Flour:
Gradually stir in the flour until fully combined, forming a soft dough.
Build the Base:
Spread about 3 cups of the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan to form the bottom layer.
Add the Cherry Layer:
Spoon the cherry pie filling over the dough base, spreading it gently and evenly.
Top with Dough:
Drop small spoonfuls of the remaining dough on top of the cherry filling—don’t worry about covering it completely.
Bake:
Place in the oven and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
Cool Completely:
Remove from the oven and let the bars cool fully in the pan.
Make the Glaze:
Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and almond extract until the glaze is smooth and pourable.
Glaze the Bars:
Drizzle the glaze generously over the cooled bars.
Cut & Serve:
Slice into bars or squares and enjoy your festive treat!