What You’ll Need
- Butter. Soften 1 cup so it beats easily with the sugar.
- Granulated sugar. Use 1¾ cups to sweeten the batter.
- Eggs. Beat in four eggs, one at a time, so each one blends in before you add the next.
- All-purpose flour. Mix in 3 cups just until the dry streaks disappear. The batter should be thick enough to hold its shape when dropped from a spoon.
- Cherry pie filling. One 21-ounce can makes the fruit layer.
How to Layer the Cherry Pie Bars
Spread about two-thirds of the batter evenly across the bottom of a greased 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish. Drop spoonfuls of cherry pie filling across the base, then gently spread them into an even layer. Dollop the remaining batter over the cherries, leaving small gaps where the filling can show through.
When to Slice the Bars
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 35 to 40 minutes, until the batter on top is lightly golden and the center is set. Cool completely in the dish so the cherry layer has time to firm up. Cut into four rows in each direction, wiping the knife between cuts if filling sticks to the blade.
Oven-Baked 5-Ingredient Cherry Pie Bars Recipe Card
Buttery cherry bars with a soft base and a lightly golden topping.
- Prep time — About 15 minutes, plus butter softening
- Bake time — 35 to 40 minutes
- Cooling — Cool completely before slicing
- Yield — 16 bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1¾ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar until light and creamy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Add the flour and mix just until combined. The batter will be thick.
- Spread about two-thirds of the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- Spoon the cherry pie filling over the base and gently spread it into an even layer.
- Drop the remaining batter by spoonfuls over the filling, leaving some cherries visible.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the top is lightly golden and the center is set.
- Let the bars cool completely in the dish before cutting into 16 squares.