--- comments: true tags: - bar - dessert --- # :cherries: Cherry Bars ![Cherry Bars][1]{ loading=lazy } | :fork_and_knife_with_plate: Serves | :timer_clock: Total Time | |:----------------------------------:|:-----------------------: | | 16 bars | 2.27 hours | ## :salt: Ingredients - Crust & Topping - :ear_of_rice: 188 g all-purpose flour - :ear_of_rice: 85 g whole rolled oats - :maple_leaf: 100 g brown sugar - :dash: 1 tsp baking powder - :lemon: 1 tsp lemon zest - :salt: 0.13 tsp salt - :butter: 142 g melted unsalted butter - :icecream: 1 tsp vanilla ## :salt: Ingredients - Filling - :corn: 11 g cornstarch - :cherries: 525 g sour cherries - :candy: 100 g granulated sugar - :lemon: 1 tsp lemon juice - :chestnut: 0.25 tsp almond extract - :ear_of_rice: 2 Tbsp whole rolled oats ## :salt: Ingredients - Icing - :glass_of_milk: 2 Tbsp whole milk - :candy: 120 g confectioners' sugar - :chestnut: 0.25 tsp almond extract ## :cooking: Cookware - 1 9-inch square baking pan - 1 medium bowl - 1 small bowl - 1 medium saucepan - 1 fork - 1 wire rack !!! tip You can use dark sweet cherries (fresh or frozen) instead of sour cherries. Reduce the sugar in the filling to 1/3 cup (67 g) and add another 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Still, if I had to choose, I would use sour cherries here. ## :pencil: Instructions - Crust & Topping ### Step 1 Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out of the pan. Set aside. ### Step 2 Whisk the all-purpose flour, 1 cup (85 g) whole rolled oats, brown sugar, baking powder, lemon zest, and salt together in a medium bowl. Add the melted unsalted butter and vanilla, and stir until the mixture resembles moist crumbly sand and no dry spots remain. ### Step 3 You will have a little more than 3 cups of crust mixture, or about 520 g. Press 2/3 of the mixture (about 2 cups/345 g) into the prepared baking pan. Press it into the pan (with your hands, a large spoon or spatula, or the bottom of a measuring cup) to form a crust. Bake for 10 minutes, and then remove from the oven to slightly cool. ## :pencil: Instructions - Filling ### Step 4 Place the cornstarch in a small bowl and set aside, within reach of the stove. In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, combine the sour cherries, granulated sugar, and lemon juice. ### Step 5 Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cherries begin to release their juices, about 4 to 6 minutes. While the cherries continue to cook, carefully remove a couple of spoonfuls of the juice from the saucepan and add to the bowl of cornstarch. Using a fork, mix the cornstarch and cherry juice together until the cornstarch is dissolved. Stir this mixture into the filling, then bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until the filling has thickened, about 10 minutes. ### Step 6 Remove from heat and stir in the almond extract. ### Step 7 Pour/spread the filling over the warm crust. Stir 2 Tablespoons whole rolled oats into the remaining crumble mixture, then sprinkle it all over the filling, and lightly press it down with the back of a large spoon or flat spatula. ### Step 8 Bake for about 40 to 50 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and a toothpick comes out *mostly* clean (with a few jammy cherry specks!). Mine take about 45 minutes. ### Step 9 Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan set on a wire rack. After about 1 hour, you can place the whole pan in the refrigerator to help speed things up. ## :pencil: Instructions - Icing ### Step 10 Whisk the icing ingredients together. Add whole milk to confectioners' sugar and almond extract to thin it out, if desired. Drizzle over cooled bars. ### Step 11 Lift the bars out of the pan using the edges of the parchment paper lining and place the whole thing on a cutting board. Slice squares with a sharp knife and, for neat squares, wipe the knife clean between each cut. ### Step 12 Cover and store leftover cherry pie bars (with or without icing) at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. ## :link: Source - [1]: <../assets/images/cherry-bars.jpg>