Christmas Cherry Bars
Experience the joy of holiday baking with our delightful Christmas Cherry Bars. Made with a rich, buttery base and topped with a sweet and tangy cherry filling, these bars are perfect for festive gatherings. Easy to prepare and irresistibly delicious!
Ingredients
- Butter Softened: One cup of unsalted butter, at room temperature, to form the rich base of the dessert.
- Granulated Sugar: Two cups to impart sweetness and assist in achieving a tender texture.
- Eggs: Four large eggs to incorporate richness and structure to the batter.
- Vanilla Extract: One teaspoon to enhance the overall flavor profile with a warm, aromatic essence.
- All-Purpose Flour: Three cups serving as the primary structural component of the bars.
- Salt: One teaspoon to moderate the sweetness and augment the flavors.
- Cherry Pie Filling: One 21-ounce can to provide the sweet and tangy fruit topping characteristic of these festive bars.
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Commence by preheating the oven to 350°F (175°C). Simultaneously, lightly grease a 13x9 inch baking pan to prevent sticking.
- Batter Formation: In a sizeable mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This will introduce air into the batter, promoting a lighter texture. Integrate the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Dry Ingredients Mixture: In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour and salt. Gradually incorporate these dry ingredients into the creamed mixture, mixing until the batter is homogeneous and smooth.
- Layer Assembly: Deposit three cups of the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading evenly. Overlay this base with the cherry pie filling, distributing it gently to maintain distinct layers. Spoon small dollops of the remaining batter over the cherry layer in a scattered fashion.
- Baking Process: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the surface turns golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating that the bars are adequately baked.
- Cooling and Finishing: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan set on a wire rack. This step is crucial for the bars to set properly and ease the cutting process. Optionally, one may whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract to create a glaze, which can be drizzled over the cooled bars for additional sweetness and visual appeal.
- Serving: Once the glaze has set, cut the dessert into bars. These are now ready to be served and enjoyed.
Notes
By adhering to these detailed instructions, the preparation of Christmas Cherry Bars will result in a dessert that is both visually appealing and deliciously satisfying.