Jolly Red Delights: Festive Christmas Cherry Bars Recipe

Decadent holiday treats always spark joy during seasonal celebrations, and these delightful christmas cherry bars bring sweet magic to any gathering.

Layers of buttery crust and vibrant cherry filling create a dessert that delights the senses.

Crumbly, rich, and wonderfully nostalgic, this classic recipe connects generations through shared culinary traditions.

Each bite tells a story of warmth and comfort, blending simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

The balance of tart cherries and sweet pastry makes these bars irresistible.

Perfectly portioned and easy to serve, they’re an ideal addition to your holiday dessert spread.

Indulge in this cherished recipe that promises to become a new family favorite.

Sweet Tips for a Juicy Finish

• Ensure butter is at room temperature for smooth, creamy mixing that creates a tender, melt-in-your-mouth crust.
• Prepare the bars up to two days in advance and store in an airtight container at room temperature for convenient holiday entertaining.
• Swap regular flour with a gluten-free all-purpose blend to accommodate guests with wheat sensitivities without compromising the delicious texture.
• Experiment with different extracts like vanilla or orange to add unique twists to the classic cherry bar recipe, creating your own signature holiday treat.
• Replace traditional cherry pie filling with fresh or frozen cherries mixed with a little cornstarch for a less processed, lower-sugar version that still delivers incredible flavor.

Serve Bars on a Cookie Tray

• Festive Dessert Plate Pairing: Serve alongside vanilla bean ice cream for a delightful temperature and flavor contrast that enhances the warm cherry bars.
• Holiday Party Presentation: Dust the cherry bars with powdered sugar and arrange on a decorative platter, creating an elegant dessert centerpiece perfect for Christmas gatherings.
• Coffee Companion Suggestion: Pair these bars with a rich espresso or creamy hot cocoa to complement the sweet cherry and buttery shortbread flavors, creating a cozy winter treat.
• Gifting Gourmet Option: Package individual bars in clear cellophane with a festive ribbon, transforming them into charming homemade holiday gifts that friends and family will adore.

Store Cherry Bars and Keep ‘Em Fresh

• Keep bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days, ensuring maximum freshness.
• Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap, then place in freezer-safe bags. Frozen bars maintain quality up to 3 months.
• Place a paper towel between bar layers to absorb excess moisture and prevent soggy texture during storage.
• Refrigerate bars if your kitchen is warm, helping maintain their crisp crumb topping and preventing filling from becoming too soft.

FAQs

• Can I use fresh cherries instead of cherry pie filling?

Fresh cherries can work, but you’ll need to cook them down with sugar and cornstarch first to create a thick filling similar to pie filling. Canned pie filling is much easier and provides consistent results.

• Is almond extract necessary for the recipe?

Almond extract is optional but adds a delicious depth of flavor that complements the cherries. If you don’t have it or don’t like almond flavor, you can skip it without affecting the overall recipe.

• What type of flour works best for this recipe?

All-purpose flour is perfect for both the crust and crumb topping. Avoid using cake or bread flour, as they have different protein contents that could change the texture of your bars.

• Can I make these bars ahead of time?

Yes, these Christmas Cherry Bars can be prepared a day in advance and stored at room temperature. They actually taste great when the flavors have had time to meld together overnight.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 4045 minutes

Total Time: 67 hours 45 minutes

Calories: 293 kcal

Servings: 12

Cherry Bar Ingredient Rundown

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and tender texture for the base layer.
• Unsalted Butter: Creates rich, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread with smooth, creamy consistency.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and helps achieve golden, crispy crust edges.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Cherry Pie Filling: Delivers vibrant, sweet-tart fruity layer with minimal preparation.
• Almond Extract: Adds sophisticated, nutty undertone that complements cherry flavor.

• Brown Sugar, All-Purpose Flour: Generates delightful crumbly texture with caramel-like notes.
• Melted Butter: Binds ingredients and creates crispy, golden brown surface.
• Ground Cinnamon: Introduces warm, aromatic spice that elevates entire dessert profile.

Tools to Make Christmas Cherry Bars Fun

• Mixing bowl: Essential for combining ingredients and creating dough.
• 9×13-inch baking pan: Perfect for creating the bar base and ensuring even baking.
• Parchment paper: Helps with easy removal and prevents sticking.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient measurements.
• Spatula or wooden spoon: Useful for mixing and spreading ingredients.
• Knife: Needed for cutting bars into squares after cooling.

Bake Cherry Bars That Look Festive

• Warm Up Your Oven

Crank the temperature to 350F and get a baking pan ready with parchment paper for easy removal.

• Create the Buttery Base

Whip softened butter and sugar until they’re light and dreamy. Fold in flour and salt, pressing the dough firmly into the pan. Bake until edges turn a soft golden color.

• Spread the Cherry

Splash almond extract into cherry pie filling and pour evenly across the golden crust.

• Craft the Crumbly Crown

Mix flour, brown sugar, and melted butter until it looks like delightful, chunky sand. Dust this topping generously over the cherry layer.

• Bake to Perfection

Pop the pan back into the oven and let it transform for 25-30 minutes until the topping becomes a gorgeous golden brown.

• Slice and Celebrate

Allow the bars to cool completely. Lift out using parchment paper and cut into delectable squares ready to devour.

Festive Christmas Cherry Bars Recipe

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4.8 from 17 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Rich Christmas Cherry Bars bring festive cheer to holiday dessert tables. Layers of buttery crust, sweet cherries, and crumbly topping create a delightful treat you’ll savor with each delectable bite.

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Ingredients

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• 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour (crust)
• 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened (crust)
• ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar (crust)
• ¼ tsp salt (crust)
• 1 can (21 oz/600 g) cherry pie filling
• ¼ tsp almond extract
• 1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour (topping)
• ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar (topping)
• ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter, melted (topping)
• ¼ tsp cinnamon (topping)

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Instructions

1. Crust Preparation: Combine softened butter and sugar until fluffy, then fold in flour and salt to create a uniform dough. Press evenly into parchment-lined 9×13-inch pan, creating a smooth foundation.
2. Initial Baking: Slide the pan into a preheated 350F (175C) oven, baking the shortbread base until edges turn delicately golden, approximately 15 minutes.
3. Filling Enhancement: While the crust bakes, elevate cherry pie filling with a splash of almond extract, stirring to harmonize flavors and create a vibrant fruit layer.
4. Layer Assembly: Remove crust from oven and generously spread the aromatic cherry mixture across the golden surface, ensuring complete and even coverage.
5. Crumble Creation: Whisk together flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then drizzle melted butter to form a textured, rustic topping with subtle granular characteristics.
6. Final Baking: Sprinkle the crumble across the cherry layer, then return to the oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the topping achieves a rich, bronzed appearance.
7. Cooling and Serving: Let the bars rest completely in the pan, then utilize parchment edges to transfer to a cutting board. Slice into precise rectangular portions, serving at room temperature to maximize flavor complexity.

Notes

• Butter Temperature Matters: Use room temperature butter for smoother mixing and better texture in the shortbread crust, avoiding cold or melted butter that can disrupt the dough’s consistency.
• Even Pressing Technique: When creating the base layer, use the back of a spoon or flat-bottomed measuring cup to press the dough uniformly, ensuring a compact and level crust.
• Crumble Coverage Strategy: Distribute the crumble topping generously but gently, aiming for complete coverage without pressing down, which helps create a light, crispy texture.
• Cooling is Crucial: Let the bars cool completely in the pan to allow the layers to set properly, preventing crumbling and ensuring clean, precise cuts when serving.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 290
• Sugar: 17 g
• Sodium: 70 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 39 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 35 mg