Christmas Cherry Dessert Bars (Print)
Festive bars with cherries, almond hints, and white chocolate in a buttery crumble.
# Ingredients:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 -
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 -
½ cup granulated sugar
03 -
½ teaspoon baking powder
04 -
Pinch of salt
→ Wet Ingredients
05 -
½ cup unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
06 -
1 large egg yolk
07 -
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
08 -
¼ teaspoon almond extract
→ Filling and Mix-ins
09 -
1 cup dried tart cherries, roughly chopped
10 -
½ cup white chocolate chips
# Directions:
01 -
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.
02 -
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
03 -
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.
04 -
Stir in the egg yolk, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Mix until a soft dough forms. The dough may be slightly crumbly but should hold together when pressed.
05 -
Reserve about one-third of the dough for the crumble topping. Press the remaining dough evenly into the prepared pan to form the base.
06 -
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.
07 -
In a small bowl, toss the dried cherries and white chocolate chips to distribute them evenly.
08 -
Sprinkle the cherry and chocolate mixture over the warm crust. Crumble the reserved dough over the cherries and chocolate layer, breaking it into small pieces so that the filling peeks through.
09 -
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 -
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.