Cherry Bars

 These bars are a variation of a cookie recipe that my mother makes.  I've adapted a few ingredients to suit my taste.  Not overly sweet; they can be made with any fruit pie filling of your choice.  They are especially good with apple pie filling (my Mom's recipe of course).  I didn't have any but I find canned pie fillings are perfectly acceptable in this recipe. These would be a perfect addition to the "tea" tray or your Christmas desert buffet.

Cherry or Berry Bars

8 oz. of butter, room temperature

1 ½ cups of granulated sugar

4 large lightly beaten eggs

2 cups of flour

1 Tablespoon of kosher salt

1 teaspoon of almond extract

1 teaspoon of Buttery Sweet Dough Bakery Emulsion (or substitute vanilla extract)

1 can or cherry or berry pie filling (or use your own home made)

Preheat the oven to350º F. Butter a 17”x12”x1” pan.

Cream the butter and the sugar. Add the eggs one at a time and mix just until blended. Add the extracts.

In a separate bowl, whisk the flour and salt together. Stir into the creamed mixture just until blended. Spread into the prepared pan. Mark the batter into 30 squares by pressing lightly into the top of the batter with a sharp knife.

Spoon 1 tablespoon of fruit filling into the center of each square. Do not press it into the batter (the batter will puff up around the filling as it bakes).

Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the batter is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the middle of the batter comes out clean. Let cool on a wire rack.

Cut into bars and sprinkle with powdered sugar..

Linked to 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies and Hearth 'n Soul.