Here’s a simple and delicious recipe for Cheery Pie Bars—a cross between a fruit pie and a bar cookie, perfect for snacking or dessert. 🍒🥧
Ingredients
For the Crust and Topping:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
For the Cherry Filling:
- 1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling (or fresh/frozen cherries with ¼ cup sugar and 1 tablespoon cornstarch)
Instructions
1. Preheat Oven
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
2. Make the Crust
- In a bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt.
- Stir in melted butter until the mixture is crumbly.
- Press about 2/3 of the mixture into the prepared pan to form an even crust.
3. Add Cherry Filling
- Spread the cherry pie filling evenly over the crust.
4. Add Topping
- Sprinkle the remaining 1/3 of the crumb mixture over the cherry layer.
5. Bake
- Bake for 30–35 minutes, until the top is golden brown.
- Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.
6. Serve
- Optional: dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with a little icing.
💡 Tips:
- For extra flavor, add ½ teaspoon almond extract to the cherry filling.
- You can substitute other fruit fillings, like blueberry, raspberry, or apple.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.
I can also give a quick no-bake version of cherry pie bars that sets in the fridge and is perfect for a last-minute dessert. Do you want that version?
