Cherry pie bars

Here’s a simple and delicious way to make cherry pie bars—they have a buttery crust, sweet cherry filling, and a soft topping.

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🍒 Ingredients

For the crust & topping:

• 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup (50 g) brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups (312 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt

For the cherry filling:

• 2 cups (about 400 g) fresh or frozen pitted cherries
• 1/2 cup (100 g) sugar
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp lemon juice

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🥣 Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Make the crust:
   • Beat butter with sugar and brown sugar until creamy.
   • Add eggs and vanilla, mix well.
   • In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
   • Gradually mix dry ingredients into the wet until combined.
3. Press 2/3 of the dough into the prepared pan to form the base.
4. Prepare the cherry filling:
   • In a saucepan over medium heat, combine cherries, sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice.
   • Cook until slightly thickened (about 5–7 minutes), then let it cool slightly.
5. Spread cherry filling evenly over the crust.
6. Crumble the remaining dough over the cherries as the topping.
7. Bake for 35–40 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Cool completely before cutting into bars. Optional: dust with powdered sugar before serving.

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These bars are perfectly sweet, slightly tart, and wonderfully buttery. They keep well in an airtight container for 3–4 days.

If you want, I can also give a shortcut version using canned cherry pie filling that’s even faster and just as tasty. Do you want me to do that?