Indulge in the delightful combination of sweet and nutty flavors with these cherry almond bars. Perfect for a quick dessert or a special treat, these bars are easy to make and sure to impress your friends and family.
If you don't usually stock cherry preserves or sliced almonds in your pantry, you might need to pick them up at the supermarket. Cherry preserves can usually be found in the jam and jelly aisle, while sliced almonds are often located in the baking section or with the nuts and snacks.
Ingredients for Cherry Almond Bars Recipe
Flour: The base for the crust, providing structure and texture.
Butter: Adds richness and helps bind the crust together.
Sugar: Sweetens the crust and balances the tartness of the cherry preserves.
Cherry preserves: The star of the recipe, adding a sweet and fruity layer.
Sliced almonds: Adds a crunchy texture and nutty flavor to the bars.
Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall flavor with a hint of vanilla.
Technique Tip for Cherry Almond Bars
When spreading the cherry preserves over the crust, use an offset spatula for an even layer. This ensures that every bite has a consistent amount of fruit filling. Additionally, toasting the sliced almonds lightly in a dry skillet before sprinkling them on top can enhance their flavor and add a delightful crunch to the bars.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
all-purpose flour - Substitute with whole wheat flour: Whole wheat flour adds a nutty flavor and increases the fiber content.
butter - Substitute with coconut oil: Coconut oil provides a similar texture and a subtle coconut flavor that complements the cherry and almond.
sugar - Substitute with honey: Honey adds natural sweetness and moisture, though it will slightly alter the flavor and texture.
cherry preserves - Substitute with raspberry preserves: Raspberry preserves offer a similar texture and tartness, providing a different but complementary fruit flavor.
sliced almonds - Substitute with chopped pecans: Chopped pecans provide a similar crunch and a rich, buttery flavor.
vanilla extract - Substitute with almond extract: Almond extract enhances the almond flavor in the bars, making it more pronounced.
Alternative Recipes Similar to Cherry Almond Bars
How to Store or Freeze Cherry Almond Bars
- Allow the cherry almond bars to cool completely before storing. This ensures that they maintain their structure and flavor.
- Use an airtight container to store the bars. This will keep them fresh and prevent them from drying out.
- Place a piece of parchment paper between each layer of bars if you need to stack them. This prevents them from sticking together.
- Store the container at room temperature if you plan to consume the bars within 2-3 days. This keeps them soft and chewy.
- For longer storage, place the airtight container in the refrigerator. The bars will stay fresh for up to a week.
- If you want to freeze the bars, first wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap. This provides an extra layer of protection against freezer burn.
- After wrapping, place the bars in a freezer-safe bag or container. Label the container with the date to keep track of their freshness.
- When ready to enjoy, thaw the bars at room temperature for a few hours or overnight in the refrigerator. This helps them return to their original texture.
- For a quick treat, you can also warm the thawed bars in the microwave for a few seconds. This enhances the flavor of the cherry preserves and makes the almonds extra crunchy.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Oven Method:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the cherry almond bars on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Cover the bars loosely with aluminum foil to prevent them from drying out.
- Heat for about 10-15 minutes or until they are warmed through.
- Let them cool slightly before enjoying their freshly baked taste.
Microwave Method:
- Place a cherry almond bar on a microwave-safe plate.
- Cover it with a damp paper towel to retain moisture.
- Microwave on medium power for 20-30 seconds.
- Check if it’s warmed to your liking; if not, continue in 10-second intervals.
- Allow it to cool for a moment before indulging.
Toaster Oven Method:
- Preheat your toaster oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the cherry almond bars on a small baking tray.
- Cover them with a piece of aluminum foil to keep them from drying out.
- Heat for about 8-10 minutes or until they are warmed through.
- Let them cool slightly before serving.
Air Fryer Method:
- Preheat your air fryer to 320°F (160°C).
- Place the cherry almond bars in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overlapping.
- Heat for about 5-7 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure they are warming evenly.
- Allow them to cool for a few minutes before enjoying their crispy edges and warm center.
Essential Tools for Making Cherry Almond Bars
Oven: Used to bake the cherry almond bars at 350°F (175°C).
Mixing bowl: Used to cream together the butter and sugar, and to mix in the flour and vanilla extract.
Hand mixer: Helps to cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Spatula: Useful for scraping down the sides of the mixing bowl and spreading the cherry preserves.
Baking pan: The container where the mixture is pressed into and baked.
Measuring cups: Used to measure out the flour, butter, sugar, and cherry preserves.
Measuring spoons: Used to measure the vanilla extract.
Knife: Used to cut the cooled bars into pieces.
Cooling rack: Allows the baked bars to cool evenly before cutting.
How to Save Time on This Recipe
Prepare ingredients in advance: Measure out flour, sugar, and butter ahead of time to streamline the process.
Use parchment paper: Line your baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal and less cleanup.
Soften butter quickly: Cut butter into small pieces and let it sit at room temperature to soften faster.
Evenly spread preserves: Warm the cherry preserves slightly to make spreading over the crust easier.
Pre-toast almonds: Lightly toast the sliced almonds before sprinkling them on top for extra flavor and crunch.
Cherry Almond Bars Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup All-purpose flour
- ½ cup Butter softened
- ½ cup Sugar
- 1 cup Cherry preserves
- ½ cup Sliced almonds
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the flour and vanilla extract, and mix until combined.
- Press the mixture into a greased baking pan.
- Spread the cherry preserves over the crust.
- Sprinkle the sliced almonds on top.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
- Let cool before cutting into bars.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
Suggested Appetizers and Main Courses
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