Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter (cut into cubes)
- 1/2 cup almond paste (about 3oz)
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/3 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup water
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch (increase to 3 scant tablespoons if using frozen cherries)
- 4 cups pitted sweet cherries (fresh or frozen)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Pinch salt
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 teaspoons milk
- 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Mix in cold butter and almond paste until crumbly.
- Press two-thirds of the mixture into a greased 9×9-inch baking pan.
- In another bowl, mix water, lemon juice, cornstarch, cherries, sugar, butter, and salt until combined.
- Pour the cherry filling over the crust and sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture on top.
- Bake for about 42 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool before cutting into bars.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 42 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (66g)
- Calories: 224
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 70mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: For optimal flavor, use fresh cherries when available. Chill your butter before mixing it into the dough for a flakier texture. Feel free to experiment with different fruits or add-ins like chocolate chips or nuts for variations.