Cherry Pie Bars

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp almond extract
• 1 1/2 cans cherry pie filling
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 – 3 Tbsp half and half

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 13 by 9-inch baking dish, or choose a 15 by 10-inch baking dish if you want slimmer bars. In a mixing bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together, then put that bowl aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until the mixture looks light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition, then mix in the vanilla and almond extracts. Turn the mixer to low and gradually work in the dry mixture just until everything comes together.
3. Scoop out 1 1/2 cups batter and set it aside. Spread the rest of the batter evenly in the prepared baking dish. Spoon the cherry pie filling over it and smooth it into an even layer, then scatter small spoonfuls of the reserved batter across the top.
4. Bake for about 30 – 37 minutes, using the shorter end for the 15 by 10 baking dish and the longer end for the 13 by 9. Take the pan out of the oven and cool the bars completely on a wire rack.
5. For the glaze, whisk all of the glaze ingredients together in a small mixing bowl, adding enough half and half to make it the consistency you want. Transfer the glaze to a resealable bag, close it, snip a small corner, and drizzle it over the cooled bars. Let the glaze firm up, chilling it in the freezer if you want it to set faster, then slice into squares.