Here is another recipe that made it onto my Christmas plates of goodies this year. I love these because not only are they super easy to make, but they add a great splash of color to cookie trays. And I am a fan of just about anything with almond extract in it!
If you like, you could also add chocolate chips and drizzle them with melted chocolate, but I actually prefer them with just the cherries. I know. coming from a chocoholic, that is hard to believe! Either way, they are perfect for Christmas. Or Valentine's Day for that matter. 
Cherry Bars
Cherry Bars
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter or margarine
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 1/4 cups flour
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries
1 cup butter or margarine
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 1/4 cups flour
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries
Glaze:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
maraschino cherry juice
1/2 cup powdered sugar
maraschino cherry juice
Cream sugar and butter. Beat in egg and vanilla. Stir in flour and salt, then cherries. Chill for at least 1 hour. Pat dough into a lightly greased 15" x 10" jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 for 15- 18 minutes. Cool completely and drizzle with glaze. To make glaze, combine powdered sugar and enough cherry juice till you get the right consistency.
Notes:
–Make sure you chill the dough, or you will make a sticky mess trying to spread it in the pan.
Love these! The pink is so fun!
Thanks Maria! Apparently pink is popular for Christmas this year. So I'm trendy and I didn't even know it.
Delicious Kara!! And thanks for the plate of goodies! I'm so lucky to be your neighbor!
Those bars look so delicious! I do have a question about the almond extract. I allergic to almonds, but was hoping to make these bars (or other desserts) with vanilla extract instead. I don't think they sell imitation almond extract either. Would using vanilla extract (imitation or pure) be a problem other than changing the taste?
Thanks!
Christine,
You can substitute vanilla extract for almond in just about any baked good. However, almond extract has a much more pronounced flavor, so using vanilla will result in a more bland flavor.
They actually do make imitation almond flavoring. I grew up with it, so I sometimes prefer it to the real stuff. And it costs a lot less too! Hope that helps.
I made these for all my boys and husband's home teaching families tonight. They were yummy. Actually my boys made them, I just drizzled them when they were done.
These look fabulous, am linking them up with my cherry donut recipe on Monday!
Oh yum!