Ingredients:
Unsalted Butter: The base of the bar—melted butter makes it rich, chewy, and gives it that soft, bakery-style texture. It also helps bind the dough together so you don’t need eggs.
Light Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and a deeper caramelized flavor thanks to the molasses. It also helps create a chewy texture that contrasts the gooey filling.
All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure of the bars. Without it, we’d be eating cherry soup.
Baking Powder: Gives just enough lift so the bars aren’t dense bricks but still maintain that soft cookie-like crumb.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness from the sugar and cherries. Do NOT skip it!
Cherry Pie Filling: The star of the show! Sweet, slightly tart, and the easiest way to add summer fruit flavor without needing to pit cherries.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
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Only 7 pantry-friendly ingredients
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No fancy equipment—just a bowl, spoon, and baking pan
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Takes 10 minutes to prep
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Sweet, chewy, buttery and packed with summer fruit flavor
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Perfect for potlucks, cookouts, or midnight snacks
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Totally customizable—try it with other pie fillings like blueberry, peach, or apple!
Equipment You’ll Need
One of the best parts about this recipe? No fancy gadgets required! Seriously, this is a one-bowl, no-mixer-needed kind of situation—which makes cleanup just as easy as prep. Here’s everything you’ll need:
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9×9-inch baking pan: This size is perfect for nice, thick bars. If you only have an 8×8, it works too—they’ll just be a little taller and might need a few extra minutes in the oven.
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Mixing bowl: One large bowl is all you need to make the dough.
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Rubber spatula or wooden spoon: For mixing the dough and spreading that gooey cherry layer.
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Measuring cups & spoons: Precision is key—even for easy bakes!
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Parchment paper: Highly recommend for lining the pan—it makes removing and slicing the bars so much easier.
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Knife or bench scraper: To slice your cooled bars cleanly.
Substitutions & Modifications
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Cherry Pie Filling: Swap with blueberry, raspberry, apple, or peach pie filling. Homemade or store-bought both work.
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Brown Sugar: Use granulated sugar in a pinch, but your bars will lose that deeper flavor.
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Butter: If using salted butter, omit the added salt.
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Flour: Gluten-free all-purpose blend works great here!
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Add-ins: Sprinkle sliced almonds or white chocolate chips over the top before baking for a fun twist.
The Easiest Cherry Pie Bars (7-Ingredient Summer Dessert)
Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted 1 ½ sticks
- ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups cherry pie filling store-bought or homemade
- Optional: Vanilla bean ice cream for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 9×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang for easy removal.
- Make the dough base: In a large bowl, mix the melted butter and brown sugar until combined. Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until a soft, crumbly dough forms.
- Press and layer: Press about ⅔ of the dough into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form an even base.
- Add cherry filling: Pour the cherry pie filling evenly over the dough layer.
- Top with crumble: Use your hands to crumble the remaining dough over the top of the cherry layer. It doesn’t have to be perfect—rustic is beautiful.
- Bake: Bake for 40–50 minutes, or until the top is golden and the filling is bubbling around the edges.
- Cool: Let cool in the pan for at least 1 hour (this helps it set). Lift out using the parchment paper and slice into 16 bars.
- Serve: Enjoy as-is, à la mode, or with a cherry pie latte for breakfast.
Video
Nutrition
Tips & Tricks
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Don’t overmix the dough—just stir until combined for the best soft texture.
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Let the bars cool fully before slicing. They need that time to firm up and become sliceable.
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Lining your pan with parchment paper makes removing the bars SO easy.
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For cleaner slices, chill the bars for 30 minutes before cutting.
Storage Instructions
Freezer: Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
To Reheat: Microwave for 10–15 seconds or warm in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes. Even better with ice cream!
More of my recipes
Do you LOVE Fruity Desserts?! Check Out More of my Favs:Soft Blueberry Crumble Cake Recipe Easy Baked Strawberry Cake Donuts Recipe Easy Peach Crumble Cheesecake RecipeConclusion
If you’re looking for an easy summer dessert that screams “homemade but I didn’t have to try that hard,” these cherry pie bars are it. They’re nostalgic, buttery, and just the right amount of gooey. Keep it classic or try out different fillings—this is a base recipe you’ll come back to again and again. Whether it’s 4th of July fireworks, a lazy Sunday breakfast, or a late-night sweet tooth moment, these bars have your back.
If you make these Cherry Pie Bars, tag me on Instagram @munchiesbymallory so I can see your perfect bites! And if you’re feeling extra fancy, serve them with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or sip on a cherry pie latte while you snack. Be sure to check out more of my summer dessert recipes on the blog! 💕
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