Surprise Cherry Squares
Indulge in the irresistible charm of Surprise Cherry Squares—a delightful dessert bar that combines buttery layers of golden cake with a luscious cherry pie filling. Easy to prepare and packed with flavor, this crowd-pleasing treat features a tender, vanilla-scented batter that envelops juicy cherries and bakes to a marbled, rustic perfection. Ready in under an hour, these squares are dusted with powdered sugar for an elegant finish, making them perfect for gatherings, potlucks, or as a simple homemade dessert. With minimal effort but maximum impact, this recipe is your go-to for a nostalgic bite of cherry-filled bliss!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 cups All-purpose flour
- 1.5 cups Granulated sugar
- 0.75 cup Unsalted butter, softened
- 4 Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 1 can (21 ounces) Cherry pie filling
- 0.25 cup Powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the eggs one at a time to the sugar-butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until well combined. The batter will be thick.
Spread two-thirds of the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish using a spatula or your hands if needed. The batter may be slightly sticky.
Spoon the cherry pie filling evenly over the layer of batter, ensuring a good distribution of cherries throughout.
Drop the remaining batter in small spoonfuls over the cherry pie filling. It won’t completely cover the filling, and that’s okay – it will create a marbled, rustic top once baked.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted into the batter (not the cherry filling) comes out clean.
Let the cherry squares cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, dust with powdered sugar if desired.
Cut into squares and serve. These are best enjoyed at room temperature and can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3425 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 146.4 g | 188% | |
| Saturated Fat | 91.5 g | 458% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 388 mg | 129% | |
| Sodium | 1209 mg | 53% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 515.1 g | 187% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 6.5 g | 23% | |
| Total Sugars | 332.4 g | ||
| Protein | 26.3 g | 53% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 71 mg | 5% | |
| Iron | 11.3 mg | 63% | |
| Potassium | 304 mg | 6% | |
*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.
