Cherry Bars Recipe

1. Preheat the Oven:
   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 15x10x1-inch baking pan to prevent the bars from sticking.
2. Make the Dough:
   In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, sugar, and salt until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step usually takes about 3-4 minutes with an electric mixer. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract and almond extract.
3. Add the Flour:
   Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined. The dough will be thick, so you may need to use a spatula to finish incorporating the flour.
4. Assemble the Bars:
   Spread about 3 cups of dough into the prepared baking pan. Use a spatula to smooth the dough into an even layer. Next, spread the cherry pie filling evenly over the dough, making sure the cherries are spread out in a uniform layer. Drop teaspoonfuls of the remaining dough over the cherry filling, creating small dollops of dough across the top.
5. Bake:
   Bake the bars in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The dough should be set, and the edges will be slightly crisp.
6. Cool:
   Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting them into squares or rectangles.
7. Make the Glaze:
   In a small bowl, mix the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract, and enough milk to reach your desired glaze consistency. Stir until smooth and well combined.
8. Drizzle the Glaze:
   Drizzle the glaze evenly over the cooled bars. You can use a spoon or a small piping bag for a more controlled drizzle.

Tips for Success