Cherry Bars

When the temperature dips below freezing, all a gal can do is hunker down and bake. Since it was Valentine’s Day – I wanted to make something red, like strawberry shortcake. However, none of the vendors on 9th Street had strawberries, so on to Plan B – something cherry, since I had a can of cherry pie filling in my pantry – cherry bars! 

For the bars:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 – 21 ounce can cherry pie filling

For the glaze:

• 3/4 cup confectioners sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon warm water

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Line and 8″ x 8″ pan with parchment paper and spray with nonstick spray.
2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to the butter/sugar mixture.
4. Reserve a 1/2 cup of the dough. Press the remaining dough in the bottom of the pan, top with the cherry pie filling. Crumble reserved dough on top in small bits.
5. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool on a wire rack.
6. While the bars are cooling, make the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk the confectioners sugar, vanilla, and warm water together, drizzle over the bars. Cut into squares, serves 12.