Sweet and Tangy: Cherry Kuchen Bars for Any Occasion

Photo byHillbilly Recipes

There’s something magical about a homemade dessert that brings joy to everyone around the table. The Cherry Kuchen Bars are no exception. Combining a buttery, soft crust with the tangy sweetness of cherries, these bars are a delicious take on a classic German dessert. Whether you're serving them at a family gathering, bringing them to a potluck, or just looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth, these bars will never disappoint.

Cherry Kuchen Bars offer a simple yet satisfying dessert that's easy to make, and they always leave a lasting impression. Their blend of buttery, rich dough with a vibrant cherry filling creates a perfect balance of textures and flavors. The dessert is finished with a powdered sugar icing drizzle that adds the right touch of sweetness.

Whether you’re familiar with Kuchen—a traditional German cake—or are just discovering it, these bars are an easier, more accessible version of the classic dessert. Perfect for sharing, they slice neatly into squares, making them ideal for events where you want something easy to serve yet deliciously memorable.

Recipe: Cherry Kuchen Bars

Ingredients:

• ½ cup butter, softened
• ½ cup shortening
• 1 ¾ cups sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 21-ounce can cherry pie filling (or substitute your favorite)

Powdered Sugar Icing:

• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
• 2 to 3 tablespoons of milk (enough to make a drizzle consistency)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and shortening with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add the sugar, baking powder, and salt, then continue to beat until everything is well combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
2. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until fully mixed. Gradually add in the flour, as much as the mixer can handle. Once the dough becomes too stiff for the mixer, stir in the remaining flour by hand with a wooden spoon.
3. Reserve about 1 ½ cups of the dough and set it aside. Press the remaining dough into the bottom of an ungreased 15x10x1-inch baking pan, creating an even layer.
4. Bake the dough for 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and spread the cherry pie filling evenly over the partially baked crust. Drop spoonfuls of the reserved dough onto the cherry filling in small mounds.
5. Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 30 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned. Let the bars cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 10 minutes.
6. While the bars are cooling, prepare the powdered sugar icing by mixing together the powdered sugar, vanilla or almond extract, and enough milk to make a drizzle consistency.
7. Once the bars are cooled, drizzle them with the powdered sugar icing. Slice into squares and serve.

These Cherry Kuchen Bars are perfect for any occasion. They offer a blend of tart cherries and a rich, buttery base that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser. The powdered sugar icing adds a finishing touch, creating a sweet contrast that enhances the overall flavor.

Not only are they delicious, but Cherry Kuchen Bars also allow room for customization. If you prefer a different fruit filling, such as blueberry or apple, feel free to make the swap. This versatile recipe can be easily adapted to your taste, making it a staple in your dessert rotation.

So, whether you’re making these for a special occasion or just as a treat for yourself, the Cherry Kuchen Bars will surely be a hit. With their simple ingredients and easy steps, this recipe is accessible to bakers of all skill levels.

To create delicious Cherry Kuchen Bars, you'll need to blend a rich dough with a vibrant cherry pie filling, topped off with a simple powdered sugar icing. This dessert is a perfect combination of flavors, balancing sweetness from the cherries with a buttery, golden crust.

The dough is made by creaming softened butter, shortening, and sugar, then adding eggs, vanilla, flour, and baking powder to form the base. After baking the crust for a few minutes, you spread the cherry filling over it, then drop small mounds of reserved dough on top. After baking for another 30 minutes, the bars are drizzled with a light powdered sugar icing, creating an irresistible treat.

Feel free to experiment with different fruit fillings such as blueberry or peach if you prefer a variation from cherry. The bars can be enjoyed at room temperature or chilled, and they store well in the fridge for up to three days, or can be frozen for several months​(Better Homes & Gardens)​(Easy Weeknight Recipes)​(Bitz & Giggles).

If you’d like to dive deeper into the recipe, check out the detailed instructions and variations on (Better Homes & Gardens)tp​(Easy Weeknight Recipes)cherr​(Bitz & Giggles)sy Weeknight Recipes](https://easyweeknightrecipes.com/cherry-kuchen-b​:contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6} Giggles](https://bitzngiggles.com/cherry-kuchen-bars/).

For additional recipe inspiration, you can also visit the page on Dear Crissy.