“CHERRY BARS RECIPE

Here’s a simple and delicious recipe for Cherry Bars. These bars are soft, sweet, and have a delightful cherry flavor. Perfect for a quick dessert or treat!

Ingredients:

• For the crust:
  • 1 box (about 15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 egg
• For the filling:
  • 1 can (about 21 oz) cherry pie filling
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional, for extra flavor)
• For the topping:
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven:
   • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
2. Prepare the crust:
   • In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, melted butter, and egg. Stir until well combined.
   • Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form the crust.
3. Make the cherry filling:
   • In a medium saucepan, combine the cherry pie filling, sugar, cornstarch, and almond extract (if using). Stir to combine.
   • Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens (about 3-4 minutes). Once thickened, remove from heat.
4. Assemble the cherry bars:
   • Pour the cherry filling evenly over the crust layer.
   • In a small bowl, mix the softened butter, flour, sugar, and salt to create the topping. Stir until it forms a crumbly texture.
   • Sprinkle the crumbled topping evenly over the cherry filling.
5. Bake:
   • Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
6. Cool and serve:
   • Let the cherry bars cool completely before cutting them into squares. This allows the filling to set properly.
   • Serve as a sweet treat for any occasion!

Tips:

• Variations: You can use other fruit pie fillings, such as blueberry, apple, or strawberry, in place of the cherry pie filling for different flavors.
• Topping Ideas: For extra texture, you can sprinkle a bit of powdered sugar on top before serving, or drizzle with a simple glaze made of powdered sugar and milk.
• Storage: Store any leftover cherry bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.

These Cherry Bars are simple to make, and they have a wonderful combination of buttery crust, sweet cherry filling, and crumbly topping. Enjoy!