These Cherry Pie Cookie Bars are an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert that pairs a tender, buttery cookie base with sweet, jammy cherry pie filling. Made from a few pantry staples, the batter comes together quickly and bakes into golden squares topped with cherry filling—all the flavor of a cherry pie without the fuss.
Recipe Highlights
- Cherry pie flavor, simplified: All the classic cherry pie notes without making a crust or working with a pie plate.
- Minimal ingredients: The recipe relies on common pantry items and a can of cherry pie filling for easy prep.
- Quick to prepare: The dough mixes in about 10 minutes and the bars bake in 30 minutes, perfect for busy days or last-minute gatherings.
- Feeds a crowd: Baked on a large sheet pan and cut into about 15 squares, these bars are ideal for parties, potlucks, or holidays.
- Soft, buttery texture: A tender, slightly chewy cookie base contrasts beautifully with the sweet cherry topping.
Ingredients in Cherry Pie Cookie Bars
- Sugar: Sweetens the batter and helps create a soft, tender crumb.
- Butter: Use fully softened butter for a rich, moist, chewy base.
- Eggs: Four eggs add structure and richness while keeping the bars thick and tender.
- Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and rounds out the sweet cherry flavor.
- Almond extract: A small amount brightens and enhances the cherries, giving a pie-like flavor.
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure without weighing the bars down.
- Cherry pie filling: One can of cherry pie filling is enough to top the squares with a jammy, fruity finish.
Tips for the Best Cherry Pie Cookie Bars
Full instructions are in the recipe card below, but these tips help ensure great results.
- Don’t skip the almond extract: It amplifies the cherry flavor and gives the bars that classic pie taste. If unavailable, use an equal amount of vanilla, but the almond is recommended.
- Soften the butter completely: Properly softened butter creams with sugar to create the right texture; cold butter won’t blend smoothly.
- Score, don’t cut, the dough: Lightly draw lines on the dough surface before adding filling to guide even placement—don’t slice all the way through.
- Place filling evenly: Drop one heaping teaspoon of cherry filling in the center of each marked square so every bar gets a balanced topping.
- Cool before slicing: Allow bars to cool fully so they set and cut cleanly without the cherry filling running.
- Use a sharp knife: A sharp blade gives the neatest squares and prevents dragging the topping.
Storage Instructions
Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer keeping, refrigerate for up to 5 days.
These bars freeze well too: layer squares between parchment paper in an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Cherry Pie Cookie Bars Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 1 cup butter softened
- 4 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 21 oz can cherry pie filling
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a 13×18-inch baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
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Beat butter and sugar for 2 to 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
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Add eggs, vanilla, and almond extract; beat for another 2 to 3 minutes.
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Add flour and mix just until combined.
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Spread the dough evenly onto the prepared baking sheet.
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Use a knife to gently draw lines on the dough surface to divide it into 15 squares. Do not cut through.
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Drop one heaping teaspoon of cherry pie filling into the center of each square.
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Bake 30 minutes, until edges are lightly golden.
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Cool completely before cutting and serving.
Nutrition
FAQs
Can I use a different pie filling? Yes — blueberry, strawberry, peach, or other pie fillings work well with the same base.
Do I have to use almond extract? It’s recommended because it enhances the cherry flavor markedly, but you can substitute an equal amount of vanilla extract if needed.
Can I make these in a smaller pan? The recipe is written for a 13×18-inch sheet pan. Using a smaller pan will yield thicker bars and may require extra baking time; watch for lightly golden edges and a set center.
How do I know when the bars are done? The edges should be lightly golden and the center should look set. A toothpick inserted into the cookie portion should come out clean.
Can I add a glaze or frosting? Yes. A simple powdered sugar glaze (1 cup powdered sugar mixed with 2–3 tablespoons milk) drizzled over cooled bars is a nice finishing touch.
More Cookies You’ll Love
- Cherry Almond Cookie Bars: Buttery bars that highlight cherry and almond flavors.
- Cherry Pie Cookies: Individual sugar cookies filled with cherry pie filling and finished with a white chocolate drizzle.
- Blackberry Cookies: Soft, chewy cookies bursting with jammy blackberry flavor.
- Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies: Ultra-soft sugar cookies made with cream cheese for a tender texture that pairs well with fruit fillings.
- Cake Mix Jello Cookies: Fun, colorful cookies made with cake mix and Jell-O for a fruity treat.
These Cherry Pie Cookie Bars offer an effortless dessert that looks impressive and delivers irresistible cherry-and-almond flavor from the very first bite.