Christmas Cherry Bars Recipe
These Christmas Cherry Bars combine a buttery, crumbly crust with tart dried cherries and sweet white chocolate chips, making for a festive and delicious holiday treat. With a simple dough base and a delightful crumble topping, these bars are perfect for sharing at holiday gatherings or enjoying as a seasonal snack.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Crumble
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 1 large egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
Filling
- 1 cup dried tart cherries, roughly chopped
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
- Incorporate Butter: Add the chilled butter pieces and use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Stir in the egg yolk, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Mix until a soft dough forms; it may be slightly crumbly but should hold together when pressed.
- Form Base and Reserve Topping: Reserve about one-third of the dough for the crumble topping. Press the remaining dough evenly into the prepared pan to form the base.
- Bake Crust: Bake the crust for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are set but the center is still pale. Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly.
- Prepare Filling: Meanwhile, toss the dried cherries and white chocolate chips in a small bowl to distribute them evenly. Sprinkle the fruit-and-chocolate mixture over the warm crust.
- Add Crumble Topping: Crumble the reserved dough over the cherries and chocolate layer, breaking it into small pieces so that the filling peeks through.
- Bake Final Bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes, until the top is golden and the filling is bubbling slightly.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Use the parchment overhang to lift them out, then cut into squares or rectangles.
Notes
- Make sure the butter is well chilled to achieve the perfect crumbly texture in the crust and topping.
- If you don’t have dried tart cherries, dried cranberries can be a good substitute.
- For easier removal, be sure to leave the parchment paper overhang when lining the pan.
- Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- You can freeze the bars for up to 2 months; thaw before serving.
Keywords: Christmas cherry bars, holiday dessert, white chocolate cherry bars, crumbly crust bars, festive dessert recipe
Find it online: https://miarosetti.com/christmas-cherry-bars-recipe/
