Step 3: Prepare the Cherry Filling
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine pitted cherries, sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice.
- Cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens and becomes glossy (about 5–7 minutes).
- Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly before spreading it over the shortbread base.
Step 4: Make the Streusel Topping
- In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon.
- Add the cold, cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or your fingers to combine until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Step 5: Assemble the Bars
- Spread the cherry filling evenly over the shortbread base.
- Sprinkle the streusel topping generously over the cherries, covering the surface completely.
Step 6: Bake
Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the cherry filling is bubbly.
Step 7: Cool and Slice
- Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- Use the parchment overhang to lift the bars out of the pan.
- Slice into squares or rectangles and serve.
Tips for the Best Cherry Bars
- Cherry Variety: Sweet cherries work well, but tart cherries provide a nice contrast to the sweet shortbread.
- Avoid Soggy Bars: Ensure the cherry filling isn’t too liquidy before spreading it on the base.
- Make Ahead: Cherry bars can be made a day in advance and stored in an airtight container. They even taste better the next day as flavors meld.
Final Thoughts
Cherry bars are a timeless dessert that’s both simple and sophisticated, with a perfect balance of textures and flavors. The buttery shortbread, tart-sweet cherry filling, and crumbly topping make them addictive. Once you try this recipe, it’s bound to become a staple in your dessert rotation.
If you want, I can also create a visual step-by-step diagram for this recipe that shows each stage of making the cherry bars—it makes it easier to follow while baking.
Do you want me to make that?
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