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Decadent chocolate covered cherry bars with a buttery crust, creamy filling, luscious cherries, and a chocolate glaze. Perfect for holidays and parties!
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These chocolate covered cherry bars have been a holiday favorite in our family for years. With a buttery crust, creamy filling, sweet cherries, and a smooth chocolate topping, they capture the same nostalgic flavor as the classic candy but in an easy-to-make bar form.
Whether you grew up enjoying chocolate-covered cherries too or just love vintage-inspired desserts, this recipe is a perfect way to bring a bit of that classic charm to your family gatherings and holiday treat trays.
Ingredient Notes
Here are the simple ingredients you’ll need for each layer.
Chocolate Crust Base
- Flour: All-purpose flour.
- Butter: Salted butter works best, softened.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar.
- Cocoa: Use good-quality cocoa powder for a rich, chocolatey flavor. we use Dutch.
Cherries, Frosting, and Glaze
Cherries
- Maraschino cherries: jarred maraschino cherries, drained well.
Frosting
- Powdered sugar: Confectioner’s sugar.
- Milk: We use 2% milk.
- Butter: Salted butter, or unsalted with a pinch of salt, melted.
- Vanilla: pure vanilla extract.
Glaze
- Chocolate chips: Semi-sweet chocolate chips pair perfectly with the cherries.
- Butter: Salted butter.
See the recipe card for full list with amounts
Supplies
Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe:
- 9-inch square pan and parchment
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk or hand mixer
- Spatula
- Cutting board and knife
- Serving tray or storage container
Let’s Make Chocolate Covered Cherry Bars!
Follow the simple steps below to make these decadent bars.
1
PREHEAT THE OVEN.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
2
Make the Crust. Bake.
Combine butter, sugar, cocoa, and flour in a mixing bowl. Mix until it forms a fine, crumbly consistency. Press evenly into a parchment lined 9-inch square pan. Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes.
3
Prepare the creamy filling.
In a bowl, mix butter, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
4
Add the cherries.
Cut the maraschino cherries in half and place evenly over the cooled crust (or you can leave them whole).
5
Layer the filling.
Drizzle the creamy frosting over the cherries.
6
Add the chocolate glaze.
Melt chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon of butter in short increments, stirring in between. Drizzle or pour evenly over the top of the bars.
7
Chill, Cut, and serve.
Refrigerate until the bars are set. Cut into squares and enjoy!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make: Simple ingredients and steps make this recipe a breeze to prepare.
- Great for many occasions: Whether it’s a holiday celebration or a casual get-together, these bars are always a hit.
- Crowd-pleaser: Chocolate, cherries, and creamy filling—what’s not to love?
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to commonly asked questions about chocolate covered cherry bars.
What’s the best way to cut these bars?
For best results, refrigerate before cutting. To get clean cuts, use a sharp knife warmed under hot water, then wipe it clean between cuts.
What’s the best way to melt the chocolate for the topping?
You can melt the chocolate chips with butter using a double boiler or in the microwave. If using the microwave, heat in 15-20 second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth.
How should i store these bars?
Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. If stacking them, place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
Chocolate Covered Cherry Bars
Decadent chocolate covered cherry bars with a buttery crust, creamy filling, luscious cherries, and a chocolate glaze. Perfect for holidays, parties, or a special treat!
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
Ingredients
Base
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Cherries
- 36 maraschino cherries (approx.) 10 oz jar, drained
Frosting
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Glaze
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Mix and bake crust: Mix crust base ingredients and press into a parchment lined 9-inch square pan. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Make frosting: Mix the butter, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla.
- Prep cherries: Drain cherries well to remove any excess moisture. Cut in half (or you can leave whole).
- Layer on cherries: Arrange cherries evenly on the crust.
- Add filling: Pour the filling over the cherries.
- Make glaze and drizzle: Melt chocolate chips and butter in short increments, stirring in between. Drizzle over bars.
- Chill, cut, and serve: Refrigerate until set. Cut into squares and serve.
Notes
- Tip for cutting: For best results, refrigerate before cutting. To get clean cuts, use a sharp knife warmed under hot water, then wipe it clean between cuts.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. If stacking them, place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 262
- Sugar: 31.4 g
- Sodium: 3 mg
- Fat: 11.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 6.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 40.6 g
- Protein: 2.1 g
- Cholesterol: 21 mg
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Have You Tried This Recipe? Please rate it in the comments and let us know your thoughts!
