Merry Cherry Bars

Ingredients and Weight:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 (12-ounce) can cherry pie filling

Preparation Time:

• 20 minutes

Cooking Time:

• 30-35 minutes

Difficulty Level:

• 2 (Simple)

Preparation Method Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla extract.
3. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
5. Press half of the dough into the prepared baking pan. Spread the cherry pie filling evenly over the crust.
6. Crumble the remaining dough over the cherry filling.
7. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Let cool completely before cutting into squares.

Nutritional Information:

• Per bar:
  • Calories: 200
  • Fat: 10g
  • Carbohydrates: 30g
  • Protein: 2g

Dish Characteristics:

• Sweet and tangy
• Buttery and tender
• Easy to make
• Perfect for potlucks and parties

User Comments:

• "These bars are so delicious! The cherry filling is the perfect balance of sweet and tart, and the crust is buttery and crumbly."
• "I made these for a potluck and they were a huge hit! Everyone loved them."
• "I'm not usually a fan of cherry pie, but these bars are amazing. I could eat them all day long."

Special Precautions and Tips:

• Don't overmix the dough, as this will make the bars tough.
• If you don't have parchment paper, you can grease the baking pan with butter or nonstick cooking spray.
• Let the bars cool completely before cutting into them, as they will be very fragile when warm.