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    Home » Recipes » Dessert » Bar Cookies

    Cherry Bars

    Published by Melissa on January 31, 2021 | Updated June 10, 2022 | 66 Comments

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    This easy Cherry Bar recipe with cherry pie filling and a simple cookie dough is a classic fruity treat for any time of year. 

    cherry bar on a white flowered plate


     

    This is a fantastic dessert recipe. It’s a not too sweet bar cookie that is incredibly easy to make. The cookie batter puffs up around the pie filling during baking for a beautiful almost stained glass look. I was inspired to share this recipe after seeing my friend Bonnie’s beautiful cookies.

    Update: I’ve updated this classic cherry pie bar recipe with new tips and photos to help you make this crowd-pleasing dessert. Enjoy!

    pinterest button for cherry pie bars

    How to Make Easy Cherry Bars

    This is a quick and easy dessert recipe. To make the bars, start by letting the butter and eggs come to room temperature. This ensures even baking. 

    Be sure to evenly coat your cake pan with butter, including in the corners and around the sides. The easiest way to do this is to open one end of a stick of butter and hold the stick to wipe it all around the pan.

    Making cookie dough batter

    The batter for this cookie is stiffer than other doughs, but it’s still easily spreadable. An offset spatula works really well to spread it evenly in the prepared pan. If you don’t have one, you can also use a rubber spatula or the back of a large spoon.

    Make sure to spread the batter into the corners evenly so they don’t brown before the rest of the cookie is baked.

    spreading cherry pie bar cookie crust into a baking sheet

    Filling Homemade Cherry Pie Bars

    To ensure that you divide the cherry filling evenly among the bars, I recommend scoring the batter in the cake pan. Use a knife to make shallow lines in the cookie dough sketching out 24 equal squares. These lines will disappear during baking.

    cooked and uncooked cherry pie bars in a baking pan

    Then, spoon the cherry filling into each square. I find it helpful to make sure each square has 2-3 whole cherries as well as the filling. Then, do not push the cherries into the batter, they will sink on their own as the batter bakes.

    To serve, let the bars cool to room temperature and sprinkle with powdered sugar before slicing.  

    sliced cherry pie bars on a baking sheet

    Storing Cherry Bars

    Store leftovers in an airtight container on the counter for up to four days. You can also freeze the bars for up to three months. 

    cherry pie bar on a flowered plate

    More Bar Recipes to Try

    If you love easy cherry bars, give these other treats a try next:

    • Key Lime Coconut Cashew Bars are zesty, bright and just sweet enough with a creamy, nutting filling. 
    • Fall Millionaire Magic Bars have a shortbread crust and decadence from toffee, coconut and M&Ms. 
    • White Chocolate Raspberry Bars from That Skinny Chick Can Bake have the perfect balance of fruity and sweet. 
    cherry pie bar on a flowered plate
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    4.60 from 5 votes

    Cherry Pie Bars

    Homemade Cherry Bars made with cherry pie filling and a simple six-ingredient batter are sweet, fruity and loved by kids and adults. 
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time40 minutes mins
    Total Time55 minutes mins
    Course: Bar Cookies
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: cherry pie bars
    Servings: 24 Bars
    Calories: 197kcal
    Author: Barbara Bakes LLC
    Prevent your screen from going to sleep

    Equipment

    • 1Easylife 18/8 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons, Set of 6 for Measuring Dry and Liquid Ingredients
    • OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Stainless-Steel Mixing Bowl Set, White

    Ingredients

    • 8 ounces butter room temperature
    • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
    • 4 large eggs
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 can cherry pie filling I used Lucky Leaf Premium Cherry

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350º F. Butter a 17"x12"x1" sheet cake pan.
    • In an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and mix just until blended. Add the vanilla.
    • In a separate bowl, whisk the flour and salt together. Stir the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture just until blended. Spread the batter into the prepared pan.
    • Mark the batter into 24 squares by pressing lightly with a sharp knife. Spoon 1 tablespoon of fruit filling into the center of each square. Do not press the filling into the batter (the batter will puff up around the filling as it bakes).
    • Bake for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
    • Cut into bars and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 197kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 166mg | Sugar: 13g
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    About Melissa & Barbara

    As of June 2022 Melissa Griffiths now is the one adding recipes. So think of it as Barbara Bakes, and Melissa too! Melissa and Barbara have been blogging friends for over 10 years and when Barbara was ready to retire and spend more time with her family, Melissa took over the site. Read more...

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      Recipe Rating




    1. blackbookkitchendiaries

      November 11, 2010 at 6:44 pm

      your creations are always stunning… thank you for sharing them with us and for stopping by my blog.

      Reply
    2. Beth

      November 11, 2010 at 5:16 am

      These look delicious, and I love cherries in my baking. Thanks for posting this one!

      Reply
    3. Jamie

      November 10, 2010 at 1:20 pm

      I love the look of these Cherry Bars. So simple to make and I love fruit in desserts. Would be a nice treat to add to our cookie trays.

      Reply
    4. Jamie

      November 08, 2010 at 11:08 pm

      Yum! I love simple homey cakey treats like this as my homebaked goods are usually eaten for breakfast and snack (as opposed to dessert) so this one is perfect. Don’t get canned pie filling here but a good stewed fruit to top it and it would be just fabulous and just the way they like it!

      Reply
    5. Susan

      November 07, 2010 at 10:03 pm

      These look so amazing – I love that they are so pretty. What a great new holiday treat – can’t wait to try!

      Susan http://www.ugogrrl.com

      Reply
    6. Anna Johnston

      November 07, 2010 at 7:39 pm

      So pretty, and a great addition to the Christmas cookies. I really like the look of these – thanks Barbara.

      Reply
    7. Paula

      November 07, 2010 at 6:05 pm

      The bars are very pretty and look delicious.

      Reply
    8. Lori

      November 07, 2010 at 5:54 pm

      They are so pretty. You do amazing work.

      Reply
    9. Eliana

      November 07, 2010 at 5:44 pm

      WOW – these could not look more delicious.

      Reply
    10. Faith (An Edible Mosaic)

      November 07, 2010 at 1:18 pm

      These would make a really pretty addition to a Christmas cookie tray! We are big cherry lovers around here! 🙂

      Reply
    11. Mags

      November 07, 2010 at 10:37 am

      Perfect for the holidays!

      Reply
    12. Avril

      November 07, 2010 at 9:58 am

      Oh my….I am in HEAVEN coming upon this fabulous recipe! I just adore anything with cherries in it! Can’t wait to make these bars!

      Happy Sunday Barbara!
      ~avril 🙂

      Reply
    13. kristy

      November 07, 2010 at 6:14 am

      I prefer having slices or bars than cakes. And I think this looks simply marvellous. Thanks for the recipe, Barbara. Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend.
      Cheers, kristy

      Reply
    14. Summer

      November 07, 2010 at 6:13 am

      Am sure Bonnie loved these !!!
      So so gooD!!
      12 weeks of Christmas jus keeps gettn better!

      Reply
    15. Cakelaw

      November 07, 2010 at 1:09 am

      These cherry bars look delicious! And perfect for Xmas with their red tops.

      Reply
    16. Shannon

      November 07, 2010 at 12:54 am

      my mission is to make these into a gluten free variety. YUM!! so pretty too.

      Reply
    17. marcellina

      November 06, 2010 at 11:50 pm

      How lovely! They look wonderful! How does the pastry puff as it has no baking powder? I love to make these!

      Reply
    18. sameena

      November 06, 2010 at 11:48 pm

      Hi Barbara,

      I love the cherry bars…yumm…

      Dr.Sameena@

      http://www.myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com

      Reply
    19. Reeni

      November 06, 2010 at 6:57 pm

      What pretty little cherry bars Barbara! These would be wonderful treats for the holidays!

      Reply
    20. chaya

      November 06, 2010 at 6:24 pm

      These look so yummy. I would like the almond extract in mine. Do you like almonds, in general?

      Reply
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