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Quick and Easy Cherry Pie Bars

Quick and Easy Cherry Pie Bars with a Cream Cheese Glaze is such a fun and delicious dessert to make when you don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. 

Cherry-pie-bars-pin

Cherry pie is a classic dessert no matter what time of the year it is. But summertime seems to be the best time to enjoy a slice of cherry pie. While you could mix together and roll out your own pie crust from scratch, there’s a need to go to all that extra effort. If you’re craving a piece of cherry pie, but making a pie crust from scratch is out of the question, you’re going to love this dessert! These simple cherry pie bars have all the flavor of cherry pie without all the hard work.

Cherry-pie-bars

Ingredients for Cherry Pie Bars

The ingredients for these easy cherry pie bars are very similar to the ingredients you’d use to make a cherry pie. You’ll use the ingredients to make a flaky crust to pair with your cherry pie filling. The only difference is that this cherry dessert is so much easier to make than a traditional pie. Here’s what you’ll need to make your cherry pie bars:

  • Flour- All-Purpose Flour
  • Salt- Iodized Salt
  • Butter- Unsalted butter
  • Sugar- Granulated Sugar
  • Eggs- Large
  • Vanilla extract
  • Cherry pie filling- Canned Cherry Pie Filling
Cherry Pie Bars served on a red checkered plate

This simple list of ingredients comes together to create a delicious cherry dessert that’s perfect for all your summer BBQs and get-togethers. Your friends and family can enjoy the classic tastes of cherry pie, and you won’t have to slave over a homemade pie crust all day to make it for them!

Cherry Pie Bars served on red and white checkered plate on a wooden table

How to Make Cherry Pie Bars

This easy dessert is made up of three basic components: crust, filling, and glaze. The first step toward making these cherry pie bars is to make the crust. Although the crust on this baked dessert is similar to a pie crust, it’s much faster and easier to make. Start by combining the flour and sugar together in a medium bowl. Whisk the ingredients until they’re well mixed, and set this bowl aside while you prepare the remaining crust ingredients.

Cherry Pie Bars flour mixture in a bowl

In a separate bowl, beat together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat until well combined. Then, pour in the dry ingredients and mix until well incorporated.

Cherry Pie Bars

When your dough is ready, spread two-thirds of the mixture into the pan and set the remaining dough aside. Press the dough into the pan until it forms an even crust along the bottom of the pan.

Cherry Pie Bar

Top the crust with your premade pie filling, making sure to spread the filling evenly over the crust. Any type of cherry pie filling works for this easy recipe. You can use your favorite brand of canned pie filling or make your own with fresh or frozen cherries.

Cherry Pie Bar

After spreading the cherry pie filling evenly over the crust, grab your remaining dough and top the pie filling with smaller pieces of dough. Simply spoon the dough over the top of the pie filling, making sure to add dough all over the top of the cherry pie bars.

Cherry Pie Bar

When all the dough has been used, it’s time to bake your cherry pie bars! Place them in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. The cherry pie bars are finished baking when the crust on top is golden brown and the pie filling has begun to bubble.

Cherry Pie Bar

Remove the baked pie bars from the oven and allow them to cool on a wire cooling rack. The bars are ready to serve when they’ve reached room temperature. You can cut them into even bars and serve right away or drizzle a delicious cream cheese glaze over the top if you prefer.

Cherry Pie Bar

How to Make a Cream Cheese Glaze

While you could dig into your cherry pie bars after they’re finished cooling, I suggest taking the time to add this delicious cream cheese glaze to the top first. In addition to adding a little bit of sweetness to your cherry dessert, this glaze also makes your bars look amazing!

Cherry Pie Bar

Making a cream cheese glaze for your cherry pie bars is so simple. In fact, it will only take a few minutes to whip it up and drizzle it over the cherry pie bars before you serve them. To make your own cream cheese glaze, you’ll need:

Cherry Pie Bar
  • Cream cheese
  • Powdered sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Milk

Add all your ingredients to a medium bowl and beat until well combined. To prevent your glaze from becoming lumpy, start with softened cream cheese. Then use a sifter to sift the powdered sugar before adding it to the bowl. Take your time to beat the cream cheese mixture until smooth. If your glaze is too thick to drizzle, add a little bit more milk until the desired consistency is reached.

Cherry Pie Bar served out of the pan with a spatula

When you’re satisfied with the consistency of your glaze, drizzle it over the top of the cherry pie bars before cutting them. Add the glaze to a piping bag or simply spoon the glaze over the bars – either way, this simple step is sure to add another delicious element to your dessert.

Cherry Pie Bar

BAKING TIPS

  • You can also use any flavor that you like besides cherry, they are all delicious! Try this recipe with blueberry, strawberry, peach, or apple pie filling.
  • When baking, the best way to measure out flour is to stir, spoon, and level the flour when measuring. The crumb mixture may seem dry at first, but be patient. It will start to moisten and clump together the longer it is mixed.
Cherry Pie Bar

Other Dessert Bars From Moore or Less Cooking That You Will Love: 

Cherry Pie Bar

Nettie is a wife and mother who is passionate about cooking and baking. With 5 children, Nettie insists that all meals, snacks, and desserts come together quickly! You will find a wide variety of easy yet scrumptious recipes on her very popular website Moore or Less Cooking

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Cherry-pie-bars
Yield: Makes 9 bars

Quick and Easy Cherry Pie Bars

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

These simple cherry pie bars have all the flavor of cherry pie without all the hard work.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 stick unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • ½ cups of sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 21-ounce can cherry pie filling
  • Ingredients for the glaze:
  • 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup powdered sugar sifted
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare an 8x8 baking pan by greasing with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine the flour and salt.
  3. Set aside
  4. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat to combine.
  5. Pour in the dry ingredients and mix until well combined.
  6. Spread two-thirds of the batter over the bottom of the prepared pan.
  7. Use your fingers to press the dough into the pan, making sure the dough is spread evenly.
  8. Top the crust with the cherry pie filling.
  9. Spoon the remaining crust dough over the top of the pie filling.
  10. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
  11. While the bars are cooling, make the cream cheese glaze by beating together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and two tablespoons of milk until smooth. Add more milk if needed.
  12. When the bars are cooled completely, drizzle the glaze over the top and cut into nine even bars.

Notes

I recommend storing Quick and Easy Cherry pie bars covered at room temperature.

Substituting Vanilla Extract with Almond Extract would be delicious as well.

Nutrition Information

Yield

9

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 351Total Fat 14gSaturated Fat 8gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 75mgSodium 170mgCarbohydrates 52gFiber 1gSugar 18gProtein 4g

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Quick and Easy Cherry Pie Bars! If you’re craving a piece of cherry pie, but making a pie crust from scratch is out of the question, you’re going to love this dessert! These simple cherry pie bars have all the flavor of cherry pie without all the hard work. via @Mooreorlesscook

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Nicole

Friday 30th of June 2023

Can you double this recipe in a 9 by 13 glass baking dish?

Nettie

Friday 30th of June 2023

Absolutely! That should work out great!

Nettie

Jackie

Saturday 20th of March 2021

I just made these with some wonderful cherry pie filling from the Western Slope of Colorado. The bottom layer was soft and delicious. Sometimes I use cookie mix in a similar fashion but the last time it turned out rock hard, so I wanted to try something new. When I spread the bottom layer it was kind of firm and I had to carefully spread it to the sides. But no worries, it turned out fantastic, like a soft shortbread. I did reduce the vanilla a bit (1/4 teaspoon) and replace with almond extract.

Miz Helen

Thursday 9th of July 2020

Congratulations! Your awesome post is featured on Full Plate Thursday 492, this week. Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us! Miz Helen

Nettie

Thursday 9th of July 2020

Thank you Miz Helen! Hope that you are having a great day! Nettie

Stacy Roman

Wednesday 1st of July 2020

These look fantastic, pinned for later. thanks for sharing

Quick and Easy Cherry Pie Bars – Eleve11

Sunday 28th of June 2020

[…] Quick and Easy Cherry Pie Bars […]

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