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cherry pie cookie bars
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Cherry Pie Bars or Kuchen Bars

Cherry Pie Bars or Kuchen Bars have a moist and chewy cake-like base topped with cherry pie filling, more pockets of tender crumble, & a sweet sugar glaze. Better than traditional pie & easy to make.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, German
Keyword bar recipes, cherry, pie
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

Cookie Base

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened (2 sticks)
  • 1 ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp almond extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 cans cherry pie filling 21 oz ea

Glaze

  • 1 cup confectioner's sugar
  • ½ tsp clear vanilla extract ** see notes
  • ¼ tsp almond extract
  • 2-3 tbsp milk

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Spray a 15x10x1 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray or grease it with oil or shortening.
  • In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar.
  • Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  • Beat in the vanilla and almond extract.
  • Add the salt to the flour and whisk lightly to combine.
  • Gradually add the flour mixture to batter and beat until well combined.
  • Spread 3 cups of batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.
  • Spread the pie filling evenly over batter.
  • Drop the remaining batter using a tablespoon over the top of the cherries. Do not spread out.
  • Bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

Glaze

  • Combine the ingredients for glaze until smooth
  • Drizzle over the bars.
  • Cut and serve or store in an airtight container until ready to serve.
  • Store the leftovers in the refrigerator.

Notes

Glaze - to make the glaze white, usual clear vanilla extract. Regular vanilla extract can also be used, the glaze will just be a little darker - more of a cream color instead of bright white.