Indulge in the delightful Merry Cherry Bars, a confectionery masterpiece that tantalizes taste buds with its irresistible combination of flavors and textures. These delectable treats feature a buttery shortbread crust topped with a luscious layer of sweet cherry pie filling, all enveloped in a velvety blanket of cream cheese frosting. The contrasting textures of the crumbly crust, soft and gooey filling, and smooth frosting create a symphony of sensations that will leave you craving more. This article presents two variations of this classic dessert: the traditional Merry Cherry Bars and a gluten-free version that caters to those with dietary restrictions. Both recipes are easy to follow and guarantee a delightful outcome.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
MERRY CHERRY BARS
It just wouldn't be Christmas at my house without these special bar cookies- so pretty using red and green maraschino cherries and candy coated chocolates.
Provided by AMYMCGS
Categories Desserts Cookies Bar Cookie Recipes
Time 45m
Yield 36
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and almond extract. Combine the flour and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until well blended. Mix in 1/2 cup of the cherries. Press the dough into an ungreased 9x13 inch baking pan. Sprinkle with remaining cherries and crushed candies. Press in lightly.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are lightly browned. Cool completely in the pan before icing. To make the icing, mix together the confectioners' sugar and water until a drizzling consistency is reached.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 130.7 calories, Carbohydrate 18.6 g, Cholesterol 19.1 mg, Fat 5.9 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 1.1 g, SaturatedFat 3.7 g, Sodium 58.5 mg, Sugar 12.6 g
MERRY CHERRY BARS
These luscious bars, filled with cherries and almonds, really suit the Christmas season. I sometimes put a cup of coconut in a clean jar with a few drops of red food coloring. After a few shakes, I have tinted coconut to sprinkle on top.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 1h5m
Yield 3 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- In a bowl, combine flour and confectioners' sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Press into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned., Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine brown sugar and eggs; mix well. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to egg mixture. Stir in almonds and cherries. Spread over crust. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until bars begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool on a wire rack. In a small bowl, beat icing ingredients until smooth. Frost bars.
Nutrition Facts :
MERRY CHERRY BARS
These are my favorite holiday bars! Make using your favorite brand of gluten-free flour for a treat that everyone can enjoy.
Provided by Lori Rukstales
Categories Cookies
Time 1h55m
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- 1. Preheat oven to 350º. In a food processor, process the sugar, flour, and butter until crumbly, like course sand. Press evenly into a 9"X13" pan. Bake for 12 minutes.
- 2. While crust is baking, prepare filling. Drain the juice from the cherries (reserving 1/4 cup for glaze) and coursely chop. Chop the pecans. Mix the eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the cherries, pecans, and coconut until well mixed and pour over baked crust. Bake an additional 20-25 minutes at 350º until the edges are turning golden brown.
- 3. While the bars are baking, prepare the glaze. Melt the butter and mix in a medium sized bowl with the cherry juice and the powdered sugar. Drizzle glaze evenly over bars while still warm.
- 4. Cut into bars approximately 1" X 2" . Makes about 48 bars.
HOMEMADE MERRY CHERRY BARS
These festive bars are an especially nice treat during the holidays.-Joan Wood, Shelton, Washington
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 45m
Yield 1-1/2 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine flour and confectioners' sugar; cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pat into a greased 11x7-in. baking pan. Bake at 375° for 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool. , In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, baking powder and salt. Add eggs and vanilla. Fold in nuts, coconut and cherries; spread over crust. , Bake at 375° for 17-22 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool before cutting.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 187 calories, Fat 10g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 37mg cholesterol, Sodium 113mg sodium, Carbohydrate 23g carbohydrate (14g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 3g protein.
Tips:
- For a gooey filling, use a mixture of fresh and frozen cherries. The frozen cherries will help to thicken the filling as they cook.
- To prevent the cherry filling from sinking to the bottom of the bars, toss the cherries with a little bit of flour before adding them to the batter.
- Don't overmix the batter. Overmixing will make the bars tough.
- Bake the bars until the edges are golden brown and the center is set. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.
- Let the bars cool completely before cutting them into squares. This will help to prevent them from falling apart.
Conclusion:
Merry Cherry Bars are a delicious and festive treat that are perfect for any occasion. They're easy to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. So next time you're looking for a sweet and satisfying snack, give Merry Cherry Bars a try.
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