Cherry Pie Bars
Cuisine: Dessert
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 9 bars
 
These cherry pie bars are absolutely perfect! A buttery oat crust and cherry almond filling come together for a dessert that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Cherry Pie Filling
  • 4 cups pitted cherries
  • 2 tbsp. lemon juice (optional)
  • 1 tsp. almond extract
  • 2 tbsp. cornstarch
  • ¼ sugar (only use if using tart cherries)
Crust
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ¾ cup melted butter
Glaze
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1-2 tbsp. milk, heavy cream, or half and half
  • ½ tsp. almond extract
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray an 8 x 8 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and line with parchment paper. Set aside.
  2. Pit your cherries and add them to a saucepan. If you're using sweet cherries, add the lemon juice to the saucepan as well. Then add the cornstarch, almond extract, and just a little water and cook for about 15 minutes to soften the cherries and form a sauce. If using tart cherries, add ¼ cup of granulated sugar to the filling mixture.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together your flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Melt the butter in a small saucepan and add to the flour mixture. Stir to combine.
  4. Spray an 8 x 8-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray and line with parchment paper. Press about ⅔ of the crust mixture into the bottom of the pan, then spread the cherry filling on top. Crumble the remaining crust mixture onto the top.
  5. Bake for about 15 minutes and allow to cool completely before removing from the pan, slicing, and adding the glaze. For the glaze just mix together the powdered sugar, milk/cream/half and half, and almond extract and drizzle over the bars
  6. Serve with vanilla ice cream or enjoy as is!
Recipe by For the Love of Gourmet at https://fortheloveofgourmet.com/cherry-pie-bars/