Cherry Jewel Bars
Brighten up your dessert table with these irresistible Cherry Jewel Bars, a buttery, crumbly treat featuring layers of rich shortbread dough, luscious cherry preserves, and a delicate almond topping. Perfectly golden and studded with vibrant cherry filling that peeks through the crumbly topping, these bars are as stunning as they are delicious. With just 15 minutes of prep time, this easy dessert recipe balances sweetness and texture beautifully, making it an ideal choice for holidays, potlucks, or an indulgent afternoon snack. Serve dusted with a light sprinkle of powdered sugar for a bakery-worthy finish, and watch these delightful bars disappear in no time! Perfect for cherry dessert lovers or anyone looking for a creative twist on classic shortbread.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 0.75 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2.25 cups all-purpose flour
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.75 cup cherry preserves
- 0.5 cup almonds, sliced
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang for easy removal.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy using a hand or stand mixer.
Add the vanilla extract, and mix until combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until the dough comes together.
Take 2/3 of the dough and press it evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form the base layer.
Spread the cherry preserves evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges.
Crumble the remaining dough over the cherry layer, allowing some of the cherry preserves to peek through.
Sprinkle the sliced almonds evenly over the top of the crumb layer.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan.
Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. Once cool, use the parchment overhang to lift the bars out of the dish.
Dust with powdered sugar (if desired) and slice into 16 squares before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
4191 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 222.6 g | 285% | |
| Saturated Fat | 124.1 g | 620% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 517 mg | 172% | |
| Sodium | 1218 mg | 53% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 518.9 g | 189% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 14.3 g | 51% | |
| Total Sugars | 285.7 g | ||
| Protein | 42.8 g | 86% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 239 mg | 18% | |
| Iron | 14.9 mg | 83% | |
| Potassium | 748 mg | 16% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
