Description
These Christmas Cherry Bars are a festive and delicious treat perfect for holiday celebrations. Featuring a buttery, tender crust infused with a hint of almond and vanilla, they are generously studded with tart dried cherries and sweet white chocolate chips, creating a delightful balance of flavors and textures in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough:
- 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
For the Filling:
- 1 cup dried tart cherries, roughly chopped
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the correct temperature while you prepare the dough.
- Prepare the dough: In a mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the chilled, cubed unsalted butter and use a pastry cutter or your fingers to blend the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the egg yolk, vanilla extract, and almond extract and mix until a soft dough forms.
- Press dough into pan: Lightly grease or line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Press two-thirds of the dough evenly into the bottom of the pan to form a crust.
- Add the filling: Sprinkle the chopped dried tart cherries and white chocolate chips evenly over the dough base in the pan.
- Top with remaining dough: Crumble the remaining dough over the cherry and chocolate chip layer to cover it partially.
- Bake the bars: Place the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the bars are set.
- Cool and serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting them into squares to serve.
Notes
- For best results, ensure the butter is well chilled before incorporating it into the dough to achieve a crumbly texture.
- You can substitute dried cranberries if tart cherries are unavailable.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
- These bars pair wonderfully with a cup of hot tea or coffee during the holidays.
Keywords: Christmas bars, cherry bars, holiday dessert, white chocolate, tart cherries, festive baking