Description
Delight in these festive Christmas Cherry Bars, a perfect holiday treat combining a buttery shortbread base with tart cherries and sweet white chocolate chips. These bars offer a wonderful balance of tangy and sweet flavors, ideal for gifting or enjoying with a cup of tea during the holiday season.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Dough
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch of salt
Flavorings and Mix-ins
- 1 large egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 cup dried tart cherries, roughly chopped
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and a pinch of salt until evenly combined. Cut in the chilled, cubed unsalted butter using a pastry cutter or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add Flavorings: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Pour this mixture into the flour and butter mixture, stirring gently with a spoon or your hands until the dough comes together without overmixing.
- Mix in the Cherries and White Chocolate: Fold the roughly chopped dried tart cherries and white chocolate chips into the dough evenly, ensuring they are well distributed throughout.
- Press into Pan: Lightly grease or line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Press the dough evenly into the pan, creating a uniform thickness to ensure even baking.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Place the baking pan in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Cut: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely on a wire rack. Once cooled, cut into squares or rectangles as desired.
Notes
- For best results, use dried tart cherries instead of sweetened cherries to maintain a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness.
- Ensure the unsalted butter is well chilled before mixing to achieve a crumbly, tender texture.
- These bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- Substitute white chocolate chips with dark or milk chocolate chips if preferred for a different flavor profile.
- Allow bars to cool completely before cutting to prevent crumbling.
Keywords: Christmas cherry bars, holiday dessert, cherry dessert bars, white chocolate cherry bars, festive baking, holiday treats