There’s something especially cheerful about a dessert filled with bright red cherries, and these Christmas Cherry Dessert Bars are made for the holiday season. They’re sweet, creamy, buttery, and wonderfully easy to serve.
A tender shortbread-style crust forms the base, followed by a rich cream cheese layer and a generous topping of cherry pie filling. After baking and cooling, the bars slice into neat squares with a beautiful red-and-white contrast that looks right at home on a Christmas dessert table.
They’re simple enough for a weeknight baking project but festive enough for cookie exchanges, holiday parties, potlucks, and family gatherings.
Why You’ll Love These Cherry Dessert Bars
These bars have everything you want in an easy holiday dessert:
Buttery crust: The base adds a rich, tender foundation.
Creamy center: Cream cheese gives the filling a smooth, tangy balance.
Sweet cherry topping: Cherry pie filling adds bright color and fruity flavor.
Easy preparation: No complicated decorating is required.
Perfect for sharing: The bars can be cut into small squares for a crowd.
Holiday-ready: The red cherries make them especially pretty for Christmas.
Ingredients
For the Crust
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Cream Cheese Layer
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cherry Topping
1 can cherry pie filling, approximately 21 ounces
Optional
Powdered sugar, for dusting
White chocolate drizzle, for decoration
How to Make Christmas Cherry Dessert Bars
