Cherry Pie Filling Dessert Bars – Overwhelmed Taste in Every Bite!

Cherry pie filling dessert bars are one of those nostalgic bakes that feel like a shortcut to comfort.

They’re buttery, soft, and bursting with gooey cherry flavor in every bite.

I prefer using canned cherry pie filling for ease, but these bars never taste “shortcut”—especially when the crust and crumble are homemade.

The base is a lightly sweet dough pressed into the pan and partially baked.

Then you layer in cherry pie filling and sprinkle on a crumbly topping made from the same dough.

Once baked, the cherries bubble up, and the topping turns golden and crisp. They’re perfect for potlucks, after-dinner sweets, or just baking on a rainy afternoon.

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Recipe Overview

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Ingredients

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Tools You’ll Need (with Alternatives in Brackets)

• Mixing bowls (or deep containers)
• Pastry cutter (or two forks or clean hands)
• 8×8 inch baking pan (or 9×9 inch)
• Parchment paper (or greased foil)
• Measuring cups and spoons (or kitchen scale)
• Spatula (or butter knife)
• Oven

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How to Make Cherry Pie Filling Dessert Bars

This recipe layers sweet, jammy cherries between golden crust and crumble. Here’s the full step-by-step process:

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Step 1: Prep Oven and Pan

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a square baking pan with parchment paper so you can lift the bars out easily after baking.

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Step 2: Make the Dough

In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Add cold butter cubes and cut them in using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Add vanilla extract and stir until combined.

Reserve about 1/3 of the dough for the topping. Press the remaining mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan to form a crust.

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Step 3: Par-Bake the Crust

Bake the crust for 10 minutes to help it set. Remove and let it cool slightly while you prepare the filling layer.

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Step 4: Add Cherry Pie Filling

Spread the cherry pie filling evenly over the baked crust. If using canned filling, give it a quick stir in a bowl first to loosen it up and make it easier to spread.

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Step 5: Add the Crumble Topping

Sprinkle the reserved dough over the cherries. You can crumble it evenly or leave some larger chunks for texture.

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Step 6: Bake Until Golden

Return the pan to the oven and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and the cherry filling is bubbling.

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Step 7: Cool and Slice

Let the bars cool in the pan for 30 minutes, then lift them out using the parchment paper and cut into 12 bars. You can chill them for cleaner slices.

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Decoration & Serving Tips

• Drizzle with a powdered sugar glaze
• Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
• Sprinkle crushed almonds or white chocolate shavings on top
• Garnish with fresh mint or a single cherry per slice

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Variations to Try

• Cherry Almond Bars: Add ½ tsp almond extract and sliced almonds on top
• Chocolate Cherry Bars: Fold mini chocolate chips into the crumble topping
• Cheesecake Cherry Bars: Add a cream cheese layer beneath the filling
• Berry Blend Bars: Mix cherry pie filling with raspberries or blueberries

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Storing Tips

• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days
• Refrigerate for up to 5 days for a firmer bar
• Freeze (wrapped individually) for up to 2 months

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Extra Tips

• Chill the bars before slicing for cleaner edges
• If topping browns too fast, cover loosely with foil
• Use parchment paper for quick cleanup and easy lifting
• For thicker filling, stir in 1 tsp cornstarch to the pie filling

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Common Mistakes & Fixes

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Let’s Bake and Enjoy Cherry Pie Filling Dessert Bars

These cherry pie filling dessert bars are easy to make and full of nostalgic flavor. Bake a batch and enjoy with your favorite people. Let me know how they turn out!