Easy Old Fashioned Cherry Holiday Squares Recipe
There’s something special about baking for a holiday. Growing up, my mom always made this easy cherry holiday squares recipe for our family gatherings, quickly becoming one of my favorite treats. Perfect for Christmas, or summer picnics around the 4th of July or Memorial Day. Cherry Holiday Squares is a simple recipe!
With a buttery base, sweet fruit pie filling, and a dusting of confectioners’ sugar, these cherry bars are a festive holiday dessert that will become a new family tradition. Plus, they’re simple to make, so you can whip up a whole pan quickly!
If you are looking for crowd-pleaser recipes for parties or potlucks, check out my Irresistible Peanut Butter Texas Sheet Cake Recipe.
Ingredients You’ll Need for Cherry Holiday Squares
- Unsalted Butter: 1 cup, at room temperature, helps create that tender, golden brown crust.
- Cup Sugar: 1 cup of sugar to sweeten the base.
- Large Eggs: 4 large eggs to bind the batter together.
- Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla adds a nice touch of flavor.
- All-Purpose Flour: 2 cups to form the base of the bars.
- Fruit Pie Filling: Almost a full 21 oz. can of cherry pie filling for that classic holiday flavor. But remember, these are equally delicious with other fruit options. Think Blueberry and Cherry for summer picnics, or peach and apple for fall flavors.
- Confectioners’ Sugar: A sprinkle on top for that perfect holiday look.
Step-By-Step Instructions
- Prepare the Pan: Butter a 10×15 sheet pan or jelly roll pan, making sure to cover all corners. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream the unsalted butter and sugar together using a stand mixer until fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Then, add the large eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Pour in the vanilla extract and lemon juice and mix until combined.
- Mix in the Flour: Slowly add in the all-purpose flour, mixing until just incorporated. Make sure the batter is smooth and well combined.
- Spread and Add Cherry Filling: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Lightly score the top with a knife to mark out equal squares. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of cherry pie filling into the center of each square. No need to overfill—just a tablespoon of cherry pie goes a long way!
- Bake to Perfection: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the edges start to turn golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Finishing Touches: Once the cherry squares have cooled, sprinkle the top with confectioners’ sugar. Then, cut them into neat squares. Serve and enjoy!
Tips for Success
- Butter the Pan Well: This makes it much easier to remove the cherry squares after baking.
- Don’t Overfill with Cherry Pie Filling: A tablespoon in the center of each square is enough—this keeps the shape intact. I like to put three cherries in each square.
- Get Creative: I don’t make these just for Christmas, they are great for summer picnics and look festive in red and blue for the 4th of July.
- Storing: These cherry bars store well in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These easy cherry holiday squares are perfect for the holiday season. They look beautiful on any holiday cookie tray, and the combination of buttery crust and sweet cherry pie filling is hard to resist. Whether you’re baking for a Christmas party or just looking for new recipes to try, this dessert is sure to be a hit with friends and family. And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can even swap out the cherry pie filling for apple pie filling to create a fun twist!
No matter the time of year, this cherry holiday squares recipe is a great family favorite that will have everyone coming back for seconds. Enjoy this simple yet delicious recipe and make your holiday baking stress-free!
Easy Old Fashioned Cherry Holiday Squares Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 4 eggs
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 21 oz can of cherry pie filling Any fruit pie filling will work!
- confectioners' sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Butter a 10×15 sheet pan or jelly roll pan, making sure to cover all corners. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, cream the unsalted butter and sugar together using a stand mixer until fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Then, add the large eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Pour in the vanilla extract and the lemon juice and mix until combined.
- Slowly add in the all-purpose flour, mixing until just incorporated. Make sure the batter is smooth and well combined.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Lightly score the top with a knife to mark out equal squares. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of cherry pie filling into the center of each square.
- Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the edges start to turn golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Once the cherry squares have cooled, sprinkle the top with confectioners’ sugar. Then, cut them into neat squares.
