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Christmas Cherry Bars Recipe

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4.6 from 142 reviews

These Christmas Cherry Bars are a festive treat combining a buttery crumb base with tart dried cherries and sweet white chocolate chips, topped with a golden crumble. Perfect for holiday gatherings, they offer a delightful balance of tartness and sweetness with a tender, crumbly texture.

Ingredients

Bar Base and Crumble

  • 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 to ensure even distribution of leavening agents and sugar.
  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, which creates a tender, crumbly texture for the crust and topping.
  4. Add Wet Ingredients and Form Dough: 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, ensuring a cohesive base and crumble.
  5. Separate Dough for Crumble: Reserve about one-third of the dough for the crumble topping. Press the remaining dough evenly into the prepared pan to form the base layer.
  6. Bake the Crust: Bake the crust for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are set but the center remains pale. Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly, so it is firm enough to hold the filling.
  7. Prepare Filling: Meanwhile, toss the dried cherries and white chocolate chips together in a small bowl to distribute them evenly for balanced flavor in every bite.
  8. Add Filling to Crust: Sprinkle the cherry and white chocolate mixture evenly over the warm crust, creating the festive fruit and chocolate layer.
  9. Add Crumble Topping: Crumble the reserved dough over the cherry and chocolate layer, breaking it into small pieces so that the filling peeks through, adding texture and visual appeal.
  10. 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, indicating doneness.
  11. 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 for serving.

Notes

  • Use chilled butter for the best crumbly texture in the crust and topping.
  • Line the baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal of bars without breaking.
  • Dried tart cherries can be substituted with dried cranberries or mixed dried berries for variety.
  • Allow bars to cool fully before cutting to prevent filling from oozing.
  • Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.

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