Sweet Cherry & Almond Dream Bars Recipe for Dessert Lovers

Sweet summer memories dance through these irresistible cherry almond dream bars that blend rich, buttery textures with vibrant fruit flavors.

Layers of golden-brown crust cradle a luscious cherry almond filling that promises pure dessert happiness.

Delicate almonds add a delightful crunch against the soft, jammy cherries nestled within each decadent bite.

Bakers seeking a simple yet elegant treat will adore how quickly these bars come together in a single pan.

Each square delivers a perfect balance of nutty warmth and fruity brightness that beckons you for another taste.

The recipe turns classic ingredients into a dessert that feels both nostalgic and fresh, making these bars an instant crowd-pleaser for any gathering or quiet afternoon indulgence.

Serving Cherry Bars for Any Sweet Occasion

• Decorate with Fresh Cherries: Garnish each bar with a whole, vibrant cherry on top for a stunning visual appeal and burst of fruity flavor.
• Create Whipped Cream Swirl: Pipe delicate dollops of homemade whipped cream alongside the bars to add a creamy, luxurious touch that complements the rich cheesecake layer.
• Drizzle Chocolate Elegance: Melt dark or white chocolate and create elegant zigzag patterns over the bars, adding a sophisticated and indulgent finish that elevates the dessert's presentation.
• Serve with Almond Crunch: Sprinkle additional toasted almond slivers around the plate for a delightful textural contrast and enhanced nutty flavor that highlights the almond theme.

Keeping Dream Bars Neatly Stored and Tasty

• Store Smartly: Refrigerate bars in an airtight container for up to 5 days, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor preservation.
• Freeze with Ease: Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer-safe container for convenient 2-month storage.
• Thaw Perfectly: Transfer frozen bars to refrigerator overnight, allowing gentle defrosting without compromising texture or taste.
• Serve Chilled: Enjoy bars directly from refrigerator for best consistency and flavor profile, keeping almonds crisp and cheesecake layer smooth.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Calories: 210 kcal

Servings: 13

Cherry Almond Dream Bars Ingredient

• Sugar Cookie Mix: Provides a buttery, sweet foundation with minimal effort.
• Cold Butter: Ensures a flaky, tender base with rich flavor and perfect crumbly texture.

• Cream Cheese: Creates a smooth, tangy filling that adds luxurious richness.
• Granulated Sugar: Balances the cream cheese's tanginess and adds delightful sweetness.
• All-Purpose Flour: Helps stabilize the cheesecake layer and prevents excess liquid.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor with warm, aromatic depth.
• Large Egg: Binds the cheesecake mixture and provides structure.

• Cherry Pie Filling: Brings vibrant color and juicy tartness to the dessert.
• Sliced Almonds: Adds delightful crunch and nutty complexity to the bar's texture.

Tools That Make Cherry Almond Bars a Breeze

• 9×13 inch baking pan: Perfect for creating deliciously layered bars.
• Aluminum foil: Helps line the pan for easy removal and cleanup.
• Electric mixer: Ensures smooth blending of cream cheese and other ingredients.
• Mixing bowls: Needed for combining crust, cheesecake, and topping mixtures.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Essential for accurate ingredient measurements.
• Spatula: Great for spreading layers evenly and scraping mixtures.
• Cooling rack: Allows bars to cool properly after baking.

How to Bake Cherry Almond Bars

• Cozy Baking Setup

Warm your kitchen and grab a foil-lined baking pan, creating a snug space for your delightful dessert adventure.

• Buttery Cookie Foundation

Crush sugar cookie mix with chilled butter, pressing it into a soft, crumbly base that promises delicious texture.

• Creamy Cheesecake Canvas

Whip cream cheese with sweet hints of sugar, vanilla, and a whisper of flour until silky smooth, creating a luxurious layer.

• Cherry Dream Landscape

Gently spread the dreamy cheesecake mixture, then cascade vibrant cherry filling across the creamy surface like a ruby-red river.

• Crunchy Almond Crown

Sprinkle the remaining cookie crumbs and nutty almonds, creating a golden, crispy topping that adds irresistible crunch.

• Baking Magic

Let the bars transform in the oven, turning golden and fragrant, until the edges dance with a perfect, tempting glow.

Tips for Almond Crunch and Cherry Tartness

• Swap sugar cookie mix with shortbread or graham cracker mix for a different crust texture and flavor profile.
• Enhance cherry pie filling by adding fresh chopped cherries or a splash of almond extract to intensify the fruity taste.
• Replace cream cheese with coconut cream and use vegan butter alternatives to make this dessert suitable for dairy-sensitive guests.
• Toast almonds before adding to the crumble topping to release deeper nutty flavors and create an extra crispy texture.
• Drizzle melted white chocolate or dust with powdered sugar after cooling to add a professional bakery-style finish to your cherry almond bars.

Irresistible Cherry Almond Dream Bars Recipe

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4.6 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Delectable cherry almond dream bars celebrate summer’s sweetest flavors with rich nutty undertones. Creamy layers and buttery crust invite home bakers to savor each delightful bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 8.5 oz (240 g) sugar cookie mix
• 8 oz (226 g) softened cream cheese
• 1 large egg
• ½ can cherry pie filling
• 4 tbsps (56 g) cold unsalted butter
• ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp (8 g) all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ⅓ cup (40 g) toasted sliced almonds

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, ensuring complete coverage for effortless removal.
2. Crust Creation: Pulse sugar cookie mix and cold butter in a food processor until forming coarse crumbs. Press approximately 2/3 of the mixture into the pan, creating a compact base layer using a measuring cup for even distribution.
3. Initial Baking: Bake the crust for 10-12 minutes until edges turn golden, then remove and allow brief cooling.
4. Cream Cheese Layer: Whip cream cheese, sugar, flour, vanilla extract, and egg in a mixing bowl until achieving a silky, lump-free consistency. Spread evenly across the partially baked crust, ensuring complete coverage.
5. Fruit and Topping Assembly: Delicately spoon cherry pie filling over the cream cheese layer, creating an attractive pattern. Combine remaining cookie crumbs with sliced almonds to craft a crunchy, textured topping.
6. Final Baking: Sprinkle almond-cookie mixture generously over the cherry filling. Return to oven and bake 35-40 minutes until top turns rich golden brown and filling sets with a slight center jiggle.
7. Cooling and Serving: Allow bars to cool completely at room temperature for one hour, then refrigerate for two additional hours. Carefully lift from pan using foil edges, slice into squares, and serve chilled for optimal flavor and texture.

Notes

• Chill Before Cutting: Refrigerating for 2 hours helps bars set perfectly, creating clean, precise cuts and enhancing flavor development.
• Butter Temperature Matters: Use cold butter for the crust to ensure a flaky, crumbly texture that doesn’t become greasy or dense.
• Check Doneness Carefully: Look for a golden-brown top and a slightly jiggly center, which indicates the bars are perfectly baked without overcooking.
• Foil Lining Tip: Press foil smoothly into pan corners to prevent filling from seeping underneath and ensure easy, mess-free removal of bars.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 55 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 210
• Sugar: 14 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 29 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg