Nestled delightfully between a classic pie bar and a crumb bar, these Cherry Almond Bars offer a truly exceptional experience. They boast a delectable buttery almond base and a vibrant filling bursting with juicy, fresh cherries, making them an ideal summer dessert.

Irresistible Cherry Almond Bars: Your Go-To Summer Dessert

Summer brings with it an abundance of nature’s finest gifts, and for fruit lovers, it’s a true feast. From the deep blue hues of fresh blueberries to the vibrant pink of watermelon and the soft blush of juicy peaches, each fruit heralds the warmth of the season. However, for many, the pinnacle of summer produce is undoubtedly Cherry Season (and yes, it absolutely deserves capitalization)! There’s something undeniably captivating about these small, ruby jewels. Every year, I find myself indulging in them until my hands, lips, and even my clothes are stained with their glorious red juice, and my stomach sends subtle pleas for mercy. Yet, I can never truly stop.

Cherries are, without a doubt, my favorite fruit. To me, cherry season is a delightful, stress-free, and incredibly rewarding time—it’s like my own delicious, non-commercial “Black Friday” of flavors. While you might not share my intense obsession with cherries, I can promise you that these homemade Cherry Almond Bars will win your heart. They strike a perfect balance between a crumb bar’s texture and a pie bar’s rich filling, with the glorious cherries taking center stage. The subtle yet distinct almond flavor in both the crust and the topping complements the fruit beautifully, adding an extra layer of gourmet sophistication. But let’s be clear: the true star of this culinary production is the cherry itself.

The Magic of Fresh Cherries in Baking

Baking with fresh cherries offers a unique sweetness and a delightful tartness that elevates any dessert. Unlike canned or frozen cherries, fresh ones bring an unparalleled vibrancy and texture to your baked goods. When these seasonal gems are incorporated into a buttery, crumbly almond base, the result is nothing short of extraordinary. The almond not only enhances the cherry’s flavor but also provides a nutty depth that makes these bars incredibly satisfying.

Tackling the Pitting Process: A Small Hurdle for a Big Reward

Now, I’ll be honest: preparing fresh cherries for baking can be a bit of a challenge. The most time-consuming part of this Cherry Almond Bar recipe, by far, is pitting the cherries. If you own a cherry pitter, consider yourself lucky – it’s a fantastic tool for this task. However, if you’re like me and don’t have one readily available, fear not! There are several simple alternatives. Some people suggest using a pastry tip, which can work quite effectively. My personal go-to method involves a small paring knife. While it requires a bit more manual effort, it gets the job done without needing any specialized gadgets. The great news is that your cherries don’t need to look perfectly pristine for this recipe; they’ll be baked into a delicious filling, so a rustic appearance is perfectly fine. Focus on removing those pits safely and efficiently, and the rest will be smooth sailing!

Once your cherries are pitted and ready, the real fun begins. It’s time to crank up your favorite tunes and let your kitchen transform into a dance party! One of the many joys of this particular recipe is that you’ll use the same versatile dough for both the buttery base and the crumbly topping. This ingenious design streamlines the preparation process, making life in the kitchen pretty fantastic and entirely stress-free. No need to prepare two separate mixtures, saving you both time and effort.

Crafting the Perfect Almond Crumb: Base and Topping in One

To create this magnificent base and topping, the process is straightforward. Begin by whisking together the dry ingredients—flour, ground almonds, sugar, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. This ensures all the flavors are evenly distributed. Next, you’ll incorporate the cold butter and the egg yolk along with vanilla and almond extracts. The key here is to use very cold, cubed butter. This helps create that wonderfully crumbly, tender texture that defines these bars. You can use a pastry cutter to efficiently blend the butter into the dry mixture, or if you prefer a more hands-on approach, your fingertips work just as well. The goal is to achieve a mixture that resembles coarse crumbs, with some small butter pieces still visible. This is crucial for developing a rich, flaky crust and topping.

Once your crumb mixture is prepared, the assembly process is quick and satisfying. You’ll press about two-thirds to three-quarters of the mixture evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan. This forms the sturdy and flavorful base for our cherry filling. After that, generously spread your sweet-tart cherry mixture over the base. Finally, sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the cherries, creating a beautiful, golden-brown topping as it bakes. This layered approach ensures every bite of these Cherry Almond Bars offers a delightful combination of textures and flavors.

Baking to Perfection: Patience for Peak Flavor

These exquisite Cherry Almond Bars will need to bake in your preheated oven for approximately 35 to 40 minutes. While waiting can feel like the only downside to making these delightful treats, the aroma that fills your kitchen will be more than enough to hold you over. During the baking process, keep an eye on the top crumbs; they should begin to turn a beautiful light golden brown. More importantly, where the luscious cherry filling is exposed, you should see the liquid bubbling gently, indicating that the fruit is softening and cooking down perfectly. In my experience, these bars typically take exactly 40 minutes to reach this ideal state, emerging from the oven with a rich, inviting scent and a promise of sweet-tart goodness.

Serving Suggestions and Storage Tips

Once baked, allowing your Cherry Almond Bars to cool completely is vital. This ensures they set properly and makes for clean, easy slicing. While these bars are undeniably delicious served slightly warm with a generous scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, creating a heavenly contrast of warm and cold, my absolute favorite way to enjoy them is chilled, straight from the fridge! The cold enhances the firmness of the almond crust and mellows the sweetness of the cherries, making for an incredibly refreshing treat on a hot summer day. For optimal freshness and flavor, store any leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They typically remain fresh and delightful for up to 3-4 days.

Tips for Customizing Your Cherry Almond Bars

One of the best things about homemade fruit bars is their versatility. While this recipe for Cherry Almond Bars is perfect as written, don’t hesitate to get creative:

• Vary the Nuts: Not a fan of almonds? You can easily substitute the ground almonds with finely chopped walnuts, pecans, or even hazelnuts for a different nutty flavor profile.
• Explore Other Fruits: While cherries are the star, this recipe works beautifully with other seasonal fruits. Try it with blueberries, raspberries, thinly sliced peaches, or a mixed berry medley for a delightful twist.
• Add a Drizzle: For an extra touch of elegance and sweetness, consider drizzling a simple almond glaze over the cooled bars. Combine powdered sugar with a touch of milk or lemon juice and a hint of almond extract for a quick and easy topping.
• Spices: A pinch of cinnamon or cardamom in the dry ingredients can add a warm, inviting depth to the almond crust, especially if you prefer a less overtly sweet dessert.
• Citrus Zest: A little lemon or orange zest added to the cherry filling can brighten the flavors and add a refreshing tang.

4.50 from 4 votes

Cherry Almond Bars

By:
Fiona Dowling

In between a pie bar and a crumb bar, these cherry almond bars have a delicious buttery almond base and are bursting with fresh cherries.

Prep:

15 mins

Cook:

40 mins

Total:

55 mins

Servings:

9 bars

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Ingredients

For the Base & Topping

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup ground almonds
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• pinch of salt
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes and very cold

For the Cherry Layer

• 2 cups pitted fresh cherries, cut in half (measure after pitting)
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons water
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, optional, for sprinkling on top

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease an 8×8 inch square baking pan.
• In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground almonds, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, baking powder, and pinch of salt until well combined. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the large egg yolk, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
• Add the very cold, cubed unsalted butter and the egg mixture to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter, fork, or your fingertips, cut the butter and wet ingredients into the dry mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Be careful not to overmix.
• Press about two-thirds to three-quarters of this crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan. This will form the base layer.
• In a separate bowl, gently toss the pitted and halved fresh cherries with 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar, cornstarch, and water. Spread this cherry mixture evenly over the pressed base layer in the pan.
• Crumble the remaining dough mixture evenly over the cherry layer. For an extra touch, you can optionally sprinkle an additional tablespoon of granulated sugar on top of your bars before baking.
• Bake in your preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the top crumbs are lightly golden brown and the cherry filling is visibly bubbling around the edges.
• Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely on a wire rack before cutting them into 9 large squares or 16 bite-sized pieces. Cooling thoroughly is essential for clean cuts and the best texture.

Notes

These Cherry Almond Bars are best when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They taste wonderful served chilled.

Nutrition

Calories:
228kcal

These Cherry Almond Bars are truly a celebration of summer flavors, combining the vibrant sweetness of fresh cherries with the comforting richness of an almond crust. Whether you serve them warm with a scoop of ice cream or chilled for a refreshing snack, they’re sure to become a cherished addition to your recipe collection. Enjoy the simple pleasure of homemade baking!