Merry Cherry Bars

Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Servings: 36
Yield: 36 servings

Description

It wouldn't be Christmas without making this recipe for merry cherry bars — so pretty with red and green maraschino cherries and candy-coated chocolates.

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chopped red and green candied cherries
1/2 cup crushed candy coated milk chocolates
1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
5 teaspoons warm water

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
2 Beat butter and sugar together in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and almond extract. Combine flour and salt; stir into butter mixture until well blended. Stir in 1/2 cup cherries.
3 Press dough into an ungreased 9x13-inch baking pan; sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup cherries and candy-coated chocolate pieces on top. Press in lightly.
4 Bake in the preheated oven until edges are lightly browned, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool completely before icing.
5 Meanwhile, whisk confectioners' sugar and water together until reaches a drizzling consistency; drizzle evenly over cookies.