👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1️⃣ Prep & Preheat
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper (for easy lifting).
2️⃣ Make the Dough
In a large bowl or food processor, combine:
Flour
Sugar
Salt
Vanilla
Cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Press ⅔ of the mixture firmly into the bottom of the pan — this is your crust.
3️⃣ Add the Cherry Filling
Gently spread cherry pie filling evenly over the crust.
Drizzle with lemon juice if using.
4️⃣ Top with Crumble
Sprinkle the remaining ⅓ of the dough over the cherries — don’t stir!
This creates a buttery, crumbly topping as it bakes.
5️⃣ Bake to Golden Perfection
Bake 35–40 minutes, until golden brown and filling is bubbly.
Cool completely before cutting — helps bars hold shape.
6️⃣ Glaze & Serve
Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla into a smooth glaze.
Drizzle over cooled bars.
Slice into squares or rectangles.
🍽️ Serving Ideas:
With vanilla ice cream or whipped cream
Packaged in boxes for gifts
At summer BBQs or holiday buffets
🌈 Variations & Pro Hacks
🍓 Fruit Swap: Try blueberry, apple, or peach pie filling
🌱 Gluten-Free? Use 1:1 GF flour blend — works perfectly
🧊 Make-Ahead Magic: Assemble unbaked, cover, freeze — bake from frozen (+5–10 mins)
❄️ Freeze Baked Bars: Wrap tightly — reheat at 300°F for 8–10 mins
🍯 Homemade Filling? Simmer fresh/frozen cherries + sugar + cornstarch until thickened
🧠 Why This Works So Well
Shortbread base = no soggy bottom
Canned filling = consistent texture & flavor
Cold butter = flaky, melt-in-your-mouth layers
Cooling time = clean slices every time
It’s not cheating — it’s smart baking. ✨
❤️ Final Thought: Sometimes, the Best Pies Aren’t Round
You don’t need a perfect lattice or a pie plate to make something truly special.
Just good ingredients, a little love, and a willingness to skip the fuss.
These Cherry Pie Bars prove that the most beloved desserts are often the simplest — vanishing fast from every party table they grace.
So next time you’re feeding a crowd…
Skip the pie tin.
Grab a tray.
And let your kitchen fill with the scent of cherries and home-baked joy.
Because great desserts shouldn’t be hard —
They should be shared. 💛
