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Christmas Cherry Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 73 reviews

These Christmas Cherry Bars are a delightful holiday treat featuring a buttery crumb base topped with tart dried cherries and sweet white chocolate chips, all finished with a crumbly topping baked to golden perfection. Perfect for festive gatherings or as a sweet seasonal snack.

Ingredients

Scale

Base and Topping

  • 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

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare 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.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
  3. 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.
  4. Add Egg and Extracts: 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.
  5. Form Crust: Reserve about one-third of the dough for the crumble topping. Press the remaining dough evenly into the prepared pan to form the base.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Add Crumble Topping: Crumble the reserved dough over the cherries and chocolate layer, breaking it into small pieces so that the filling peeks through.
  9. Final Bake: 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.
  10. 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

  • Use chilled butter for better crumbly texture in the dough.
  • Line the baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal and cleaner cuts.
  • Optional: swap dried tart cherries with dried cranberries for a slightly different tartness.
  • Ensure the bars cool completely before cutting to allow the filling to set properly.
  • Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Keywords: Christmas cherry bars, holiday dessert, dried cherry bars, white chocolate bars, crumb bars, festive dessert

Find it online: https://dinewithlily.com/christmas-cherry-bars-recipe/