Cherry Dream Bars

Hi Everyone! It’s Kathi here from over at Deliciously Yum. I am so glad to finally be back for my first post of 2015. The timing couldn’t be any better though – Cherry Dream Bars would make a perfect treat to devour with those you love most on Valentine’s Day (or any other day, if you ask me).

Cherry Dream Bars... These are absolutely AMAZING! Plus, it only requires about 10 minutes of prep time with ingredients you probably already have on hand!

While the dough is made completely from scratch, I can confidently tell you that you’ll be able to whip it up in no time. Not only does it require less than 10 minutes of active time to make these, but you’ll likely have everything you need already in your pantry. I like to work with simple ingredients to make some scrumptious recipes that are filled with flavor. Perfectly suitable to feed a crowd or just a couple of people – these bars are definitely no exception!

Cherry Dream Bars... These are absolutely AMAZING! Plus, it only requires about 10 minutes of prep time with ingredients you probably already have on hand!

Every time Valentine’s Day rolls around, I just love seeing all the chocolate and red velvet recipes pop up all over the internet. But I like having options and switching things up here and there. These Cherry Dream Bars are just the ticket. They’re as satisfying as an indulgent chocolate treat, but with the addition of naturally sweet and wonderfully juicy cherries.

I won’t even tell you how fast they disappeared… and it’s just my husband, Adam, and I! There’s only so much we can do when the wonderful aroma of freshly baked bars fills our home. We may have enjoyed our pre-valentine’s treat a bit too much, but I can already guarantee what I’ll be making again for us in less than 2 weeks. We can’t get enough.

Cherry Dream Bars... These are absolutely AMAZING! Plus, it only requires about 10 minutes of prep time with ingredients you probably already have on hand!

4.6 from 5 reviews
Cherry Dream Bars
 
Author:
Serves: 12
Ingredients
  • For the Bars:
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling
  • For the Glaze:
  • ½ cup confectioner’s sugar
  • 1 ½ tablespoons milk
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-x-8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil. Spray with nonstick spray. Set aside.
  2. In the bowl of your stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar, about 1-2 minutes. Add salt, eggs, and vanilla and continue stirring until fully incorporated. Add flour and baking powder and mix until just combined. Reserve ½ cup of dough. Press remaining dough into the prepared baking pan. Top with cherry pie filling. Drop remaining batter (1/2 cup) in small pieces over the cherry filling.
  3. Place in the oven and bake for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and place pan on a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled prepare the glaze. Whisk together confectioners’ sugar and milk until smooth and drizzle over the bars. Cut into 12 squares and serve.
Notes
Recipe Lightly Adapted From: The Recipe Critic and Julie's Eats & Treats

Hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

This recipe was created by contributor, Kathi, from Deliciously Yum

Kathi-Contributor-Bio

You can find Deliciously Yum at:

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If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #chefintraining and/or #chefintrainingblog. I would love to see how these recipes take shape in your kitchens.

Filed under: dessert

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Comments

  1. Sara Woodside

    I wanted to say that your website kills me. In a good way!! I pin just about everything you post and do actually make it. Thanks for the great website. I think that this is my fourth one of your recipes that I have pinned today. I am looking forward to these. I love cherry desserts.

    Thanks again!

  2. Joanna Cowan

    So gonna have to try these out! Yum, love cherries & think I will add some cream cheese as well :)

  3. Liz

    Love this recipe. Thank you.

  4. Connie Chambers

    5

    I make these frequently and they are wonderful with a can of lemon pie filling! Yummo!

    1. Jan

      Great idea!

  5. Cathy

    Hi! These sound dreamy for sure!! I just wanted to check and make sure I can double this for a 9x 13 pan as I have no use to make anything smaller! I have too many hungry mouths to feed! LOL! Please let me know by email preferrably with all caps in subject bar if there will be problems which as a long time home baker I can see none. Just wanted to make sure!
    Thanks so much!!!

  6. Anna

    Hi! I've just made the recipe for the Cherry Dream bars, but the cherries are completely stuck to the tin foil. I fear that maybe I should have used parchment paper instead. How do you unstick the cherries from the side so that the bars come out looking nice like your pictures? (other problems are batter on the top retained their shapes without sinking into the cherries, and the icing portion should be halved to look like the images. I fear mine came out over-iced as well.) For the time being, I've put the whole slab into the fridge hoping it will be easier to cut in the morning.

    1. Mom

      You need to grease the sides of the aluminum foil as well as the bottom. I am old school. I generously spread solid crisco on the bottom and sides . No sticking (maybe just a little). I don't think the batter is supposed to sink in. It is a topping.

  7. Penny

    Is that 1and3/4 flour or 3/4 cup flour

  8. Faye C Richmond

    I will be making this recipe. Looks really good.

  9. Jan Knight

    I find the dough hard to spread in the pan since it is so sticky. Do you have a tip on how to make spreading the dough easier. Love your recipes!

    1. Suzanne Campbell

      5

      When it's difficult to spread, spray a spatula with Pam and it will just glide on the surface enough for you to spread.

  10. Deana

    I'm going to make this today, it looks so yummy! However, after reading all of the comments, I found 3 questions that were asked and never answered. This is disappointing, as they are good questions and could help others running into the same problem. So I guess I'm curious as to why you don't answer the questions of your readers?

    1. Chef in Training

      I apologize. This recipe was done by one of my contributors, Kathi. I will ask her to come and answer some of the questions. Thanks for your patience.

    2. Laura

      Hi could someone please answer above questions? Really want to make these but questions above are good and would like to see answered before I try this recipe!! Thanks?

  11. Jennifer

    5

    I made this for my husband..and he LOVED LOVED LOVED IT!! He gets excited Every time he thinks I'm making it. Sometimes I tease I'm going to make when he's on a diet (hehe). He loves the cherry filling..and would like me to try apple filling this time. He's a big apple desert guy. Thanks so much for this gem!

  12. Trisha

    Can I use fresh cheeriesI have in freezer and if so what do I do to make my own pie filling to make these bars with?? Thank you

  13. Ellen

    5

    Made this today & it's delicious! Lined my pan with parchment paper and had no trouble with it. Definitely a keeper. Thank you for sharing.

  14. Kim

    3

    I made this recipe - very easy. Used parchment paper to line the pan as another person suggested. The flavor was good, but my family didn't care for these. The base was a little heavy.

  15. Betty Daggett

    Does this freeze well?