cherry pie bars

Here’s a simple and delicious recipe for Cherry Pie Bars — perfect if you want the classic cherry pie flavor in an easy-to-cut bar form:

Cherry Pie Bars Recipe

Ingredients

For the crust and topping:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cubed

For the cherry filling:

• 2 cups pitted cherries (fresh or frozen, thawed)
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven:
   • To 350°F (175°C).
   • Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
2. Make the crust:
   • In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt.
   • Cut in the cold butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
   • Press about 2/3 of the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
3. Prepare the cherry filling:
   • In a saucepan, combine cherries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and vanilla.
   • Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens and becomes glossy (about 5–7 minutes).
   • Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
4. Assemble:
   • Spread the cherry filling evenly over the crust in the pan.
   • Crumble the remaining crust mixture evenly over the cherry layer.
5. Bake:
   • Bake for 35–40 minutes, until the topping is golden and filling is bubbling around the edges.
6. Cool and serve:
   • Let the bars cool completely before slicing.
   • Use the parchment overhang to lift bars out of the pan for easy cutting.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

If you want, I can provide a gluten-free or vegan version of this recipe or a quicker no-bake cherry bar alternative.

Let me know!