A Taste of Summer Joy in Every Bite
Is there anything more nostalgic than the scent of bubbling fruit and a buttery crust wafting through a screen door on a warm Saturday afternoon? I often find myself asking if a simple dessert can truly hold a memory, and for me, these Ruby Red Cherry Bars are practically a time machine. When I was just a sprout back in Texas, my grandmother would spend her mornings pitting fresh cherry bars ingredients while the cicadas hummed outside. She always said that the secret to a happy home was a full cookie jar, and these cherry pie bars were the crown jewels of her kitchen counter. Today, as a husband to Emily and a dad to Adams and Jana, I find myself reaching for the same mixing bowls to recreate that magic for my own crew. Whether you are looking for red cherry bars to brighten a rainy day or a dependable easy cherry bar recipe for a school potluck, you have come to the right place. Grab your apron and let us get baking!
Whenever I pull a tray of these cherry dessert bars out of the oven, Jana is the first one in the kitchen, her nose twitching at the scent of almond extract and lemon zest. It is those little moments, seeing her eyes light up, that remind me why I started MisterRecipes.com. Cooking isn’t just about the food; it is about the smiles across the dinner table. These ruby red cherry bars from scratch are designed to be approachable enough for a Tuesday night but decadent enough for a holiday spread. We are going to walk through how to create a homemade cherry filling that beats anything in a can, nestled between a buttery shortbread crust and a golden crumb topped cherry pie bars finish.
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Ruby Red Cherry Bars
- Ingredients for Ruby Red Cherry Bars
- How to Make Ruby Red Cherry Bars
- Pro Tips & Variations
- Ruby Red Cherry Bars Serving Suggestions
- Ruby Red Cherry Bars Storage & Reheating
- FAQ about Ruby Red Cherry Bars
- Final Thoughts
Why You’ll Love This Ruby Red Cherry Bars
If you are a fan of easy cranberry crumble bars, you are going to absolutely adore this cherry version. There are a few specific reasons why this ruby red cherry bars with oat crumble topping recipe has become a permanent fixture in our household. First and foremost, the texture is a masterclass in balance. You get the crunch from the oat crust cherry bars base, the jammy sweetness of the sour cherry bars filling, and the buttery melt in your mouth finish of the crumb topped cherry bars. It is a cherry pie bar dessert that feels sophisticated but remains incredibly kid friendly.
- Versatility with Fruit: You can make these ruby red cherry bars with frozen sour cherries or fresh ones, making it a year round treat.
- Better Than Pie: Let’s be honest, rolling out a pie crust can be a chore. This no pie crust cherry dessert gives you all the flavor of a cherry pie with half the effort.
- Perfect for Sharing: These baked cherry squares are sturdy enough to be packed in a lunchbox or carried to summer BBQs and potlucks without falling apart.
- Customizable Flavor: From almond cherry bars profiles to adding a bit of citrus, this recipe is a canvas for your favorite flavors.
- Make Ahead Magic: These actually taste even better the next day once the homemade cherry filling bars have had time to set, making them the ultimate holiday cherry bars staple.
Adams, who is twelve now and taller than Emily, loves helping me press the oat crust into the pan. He says it is like playing with edible sand. It is that simplicity that makes this ruby red cherry bars for parties choice so perfect. You don’t need fancy equipment, just a few bowls, a 9×13 pan, and a love for buttery cherry squares. If you enjoy fruit forward bakes, you might also want to check out my maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies for another way to use up those cherries!
Ingredients for Ruby Red Cherry Bars
To achieve that bakery style ruby red cherry bars look and taste, we use high quality pantry staples. Here is what you will need to gather on your counter:
- Cherries: You can use frozen pitted cherries, fresh red cherries, or even sour cherries. If you are in a rush, a high quality canned cherry pie filling works too.
- All Purpose Flour: This provides the structure for our shortbread crust cherry bars.
- Rolled Oats: We use rolled oats divided to add a heartier texture to our oat crumble cherry bars.
- Butter: Use unsalted, softened butter for the best buttery shortbread crust.
- Sugar: A mix of granulated and brown sugar adds depth and that ruby red cherry bars with rolled oats and brown sugar signature chew.
- Cornstarch: This is the essential thickening agent for our cherry filling with cornstarch.
- Lemon Juice and Zest: This provides brightness in filling and balances the sweetness.
- Almond Extract: This is the secret ingredient that makes almond glazed ruby red cherry bars so irresistible.
- Vanilla Extract: For that classic homemade flavor in the crumb topping ruby red cherry bars.
- Salt and Baking Powder: To balance the flavors and add just a hint of lift.
How to Make Ruby Red Cherry Bars
Step-by-Step Instructions
Making ruby red cherry bars with homemade cherry filling is a therapeutic process. I love the sound of the spoon scraping the pan as the cherries begin to release their juices. Here is how we do it in the Sharif house.
- Preheat and Prep: Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 pan or line it with parchment paper. This ensures your ruby red cherry bars baked in 9×13 pan come out perfectly every time.
- The Filling: In a medium saucepan, combine your cherries, sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch. If you are using frozen cherry bars ingredients, no need to thaw them first. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and becomes that beautiful, glossy ruby red color. Stir in the almond extract and set aside to cool slightly.
- The Crust and Crumble: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Stir in the flour, rolled oats, baking powder, and salt. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs.
- Press the Base: Take about two thirds of the oat mixture and press it firmly into the bottom of your prepared pan. We want a solid brown sugar oat crust that can support the fruit.
- Layer the Fruit: Spread your homemade cherry filling evenly over the crust. The contrast of the bright red against the golden dough is just stunning.
- Top It Off: Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the top. This creates those iconic crumb topped cherry pie bars.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. You are looking for a golden brown top and bubbling fruit at the edges. The smell in your kitchen will be absolutely heavenly, like a summer cherry dessert dream.
- Cooling is Key: I know it is hard to wait, but these cherry jam bars need to cool completely in the pan before slicing. This allows the cherry filling with cornstarch to set so you get clean, beautiful squares.
For those who love a bit of extra sweetness, you can whisk together a simple glaze made with powdered sugar, milk, and extract to drizzle over the top once they are cool. It turns them into cherry bars with glaze that look like they came straight from a professional bakery. This method is very similar to how Sally dari Sally’s Baking Addiction handles her fruit bars, ensuring a sturdy base and a vibrant filling.
Pro Tips & Variations
Over the years, Emily and I have experimented with many ruby red cherry bars from scratch variations. Here are a few ways to mix things up:
- The Citrus Twist: Try using orange or lemon zest cherry bars techniques. A bit of orange juice in the filling can create a deeper, more complex flavor profile.
- Gluten Free Option: You can easily make gluten free ruby red cherry bars with oat crust by using certified gluten free oats and a 1 to 1 gluten free flour blend.
- Nutty Addition: For extra crunch, add sliced almonds in crumb or topping or even chopped pecans. It creates a coconut pecan ruby red cherry bars vibe if you toss in some shredded coconut too.
- Spice It Up: A pinch of ground cinnamon or nutmeg in the oat mixture can add a warm, holiday cherry bars feel to the recipe.
- Dairy Free: Simply use a high quality vegan butter or margarine to create dairy free ruby red cherry bars that everyone can enjoy.
If you find yourself with extra oats, you might also like my easy Biscoff truffles, which have that same comforting, toasted grain flavor. According to the experts at Feel Good Foodie, using frozen pitted cherries is one of the best ways to ensure consistent results regardless of the season.
Ruby Red Cherry Bars Serving Suggestions
These ruby red cherry bars for summer BBQs and potlucks are stars on their own, but they play well with others. Here is how I like to serve them:
- The A La Mode: Serve a warm bar with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. The cold cream melting into the cherry filling is pure bliss.
- The Brunch Spread: These fit perfectly alongside a spinach stuffed pie or a fruit salad for a fancy Sunday morning.
- The Coffee Break: A square of this summer ruby red cherry dessert bars treat with a hot cup of coffee is my favorite way to spend a quiet afternoon while the kids are at practice.
- The Dessert Board: Include them on a sweets charcuterie board with some red velvet cupcakes and fresh berries for a stunning presentation.
Ruby Red Cherry Bars Storage & Reheating
If you have leftovers (a rare occurrence around Adams!), these homemade cherry bar squares store beautifully. Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week. Keeping them chilled actually makes the shortbread crust cherry bars a bit firmer and quite refreshing on a hot day.
For long term storage, these ruby red cherry bars freeze like a dream. Wrap individual squares in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag. They will stay fresh for up to three months. To reheat, just let them thaw at room temperature or pop them in a low oven for a few minutes to crisp up the oat crumble cherry bars topping again. It is like having a frozen cherry dessert ready whenever the craving strikes!
FAQ about Ruby Red Cherry Bars
Can I use canned filling for these bars?
Yes! While I love the flavor of from scratch cherry bars, you can certainly use ruby red cherry bars with canned cherry pie filling for an even easy cherry bars recipe. Just make sure to still add a splash of almond extract to give it that homemade touch.
How do I prevent the crust from being soggy?
The secret is to bake the buttery shortbread crust just right and ensure your homemade cherry filling is sufficiently thickened with cornstarch. Also, letting them cool completely is vital for the structure of baked cherry bars.
Can I make these with other fruits?
Absolutely. This base works wonderfully for blueberry dessert bars or even a cranberry orange shortbread style. The oat topping cherry bars formula is very forgiving!
Are these bars suitable for a Christmas cookie exchange?
Yes, they are! These ruby red cherry bars for Christmas cookie exchange are always a hit because their vibrant color looks beautiful on a holiday platter next to buttery pecan snowballs.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, a recipe is just a set of instructions, but a meal is a memory in the making. Every time I see Jana with a little ruby red cherry bars crumb on her chin, I am reminded that these simple acts of baking are what bind us together. Whether you are making these as old fashioned ruby red cherry bars to honor a grandparent or starting a new tradition with your own little ones, I hope they bring as much joy to your kitchen as they do to mine. Don’t forget to save this recipe to your favorite Pinterest board and leave a comment below letting me know how they turned out for you. Happy baking, friends!
Ruby Red Cherry Bars
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Stir constantly until the mixture thickens and becomes glossy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the almond extract. Let cool slightly while preparing the crust.
- Stir until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
