Cherry Pie Bars

Ingredients:

For the Crust and Topping:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Filling:

• 2 cups cherry pie filling (homemade or store-bought)
• 1 teaspoon pure almond extract
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
• Powdered sugar (for dusting, optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Reserve about 1 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture for the topping. Press the remaining crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of the greased baking pan to form the crust.
4. In another bowl, mix the cherry pie filling, pure almond extract, lemon juice, and lemon zest (if using).
5. Spread the cherry filling mixture evenly over the crust in the baking pan.
6. Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture evenly over the cherry filling, creating a crumbly topping.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
8. Remove the Cherry Pie Bars from the oven and let them cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
9. Once cooled, refrigerate the bars for at least 2 hours or until they are fully chilled and set.
10. After chilling, cut the bars into squares.
11. Dust the bars with powdered sugar, if desired, for a touch of sweetness and presentation.
12. Serve your Cherry Pie Bars as a delightful dessert that captures the essence of cherry pie in every bite!
13. Enjoy the combination of buttery crust, sweet cherry filling, and crumbly topping!

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Baking Time: 45-50 minutes Chilling Time: 2 hours Total Time: Approximately 3 hours and 5 minutes Servings: About 24 bars