Description
Irresistible Cherry Pie Bars bring classic American dessert comfort to your kitchen with a delightful twist. Sweet cherries nestled in a buttery crust and crowned with a crumbly streusel topping promise pure baking bliss you’ll savor to the last crumb.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.5 cups (188g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (85g) old-fashioned whole rolled oats
- 1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 10 tablespoons (142g) unsalted butter, melted
Additional Dry Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons (11g) old-fashioned whole rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 350F (177C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring complete coverage.
- Create the base mixture by combining flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, lemon zest, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
- Incorporate melted butter and vanilla extract into the dry ingredients, stirring until a cohesive crumbly texture forms.
- Separate 1 cup of the mixture for the topping, then firmly press the remaining mixture into the prepared pan, creating an even base layer.
- Craft the cherry filling by blending cornstarch, frozen cherries, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and almond extract until well integrated.
- Distribute the cherry filling uniformly across the prepared crust, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Enhance the reserved topping by mixing in additional oats, then generously sprinkle over the cherry filling.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, watching for a golden-brown top and bubbling cherry filling as indicators of doneness.
- Allow the baked bars to cool completely within the pan, placed on a wire rack to ensure proper setting.
- Optional: Prepare and drizzle icing over the cooled bars for added sweetness and visual appeal.
Notes
- Choose frozen cherries at peak ripeness for the most vibrant flavor and intense color in your bars.
- Swap regular flour with gluten-free blend to make these bars celiac-friendly without compromising texture.
- Use quick-cooking oats for a more uniform crumb consistency that binds perfectly in the topping and base.
- Add a sprinkle of sliced almonds to the crumb topping for extra crunch and nutty depth that complements the cherry filling.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 45 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg