These cherry almond dessert bars are a scrumptious combination of cherries and almonds on top of a brown sugar and oatmeal cookie base! They are sweet and chewy bars.

three cherry almond dessert bars on a blue plate

Delightful for any time of year, particulary in the fall and summer months. The ingredients are simple, easy to keep on hand and easy to find in the grocery store. The recipe is also easy to make.

I am a chocolate lover and I feel pleasently suprised when I enjoy something, like these cherry almond dessert bars, that have no chocolate in them …. whatsoever. Say what!?!? Yesssss, they are so good even without any chocolate!

cut cherry almond dessert bars on a cutting board

*** This recipe has been adapted from a Better Homes & Garden recipe (Chewy Cherry Almond Bars, 2012) which I have used for many years. I add a bit more almond extract and toast the almonds for extra nuttiness. And I finish with a sprinkle of almonds on top so that you can easily see them. I have also found you can change the fruit flavor of the preserves and/or add extra preserves.

How are fruit preserves different from Jams and Jellies?

Jelly is made with strained fruit juice and has added gelatin. Jam is made with mashed fruit and contains more fruit pieces than jelly. Preserves have the whole fruit in it and will be the most potent.

Since preserves have the whole fruit included, it is a little healthier and will pack in more flavor. You will even see and taste small chunks of fruit in the preserve.

Here are the most common preserves you will find: Strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, or apricot. The cherry preserves could be swapped out for any of these flavors! The blueberry preserve is calling my name to try next ….. Blueberry Almond Bars anyone!?!?

FOOD FOR THOUGHT …. Consider checking your local farmers market or fruit orchard for fresh preserves!

How to make Cherry Almond Dessert Bars

The dry ingredients include brown sugar, baking powder, all-purpose flour, old fashiond oats, and sliced almonds. The wet ingredients consist of butter, egg, almond extract, and cherry preserves.

ingredients for cherry almond dessert bars laid out on a white counter

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. With cooking spray, grease or line a 13 x 9 baking pan with foil or parchment paper. Lining the pan will allow you to easily lift the bars out of the pan, which makes cutting them a lot easier. Make sure to grease the foil, if using. Grease and/or line the sides and bottom well. Set pan aside.

How do you toast sliced almonds?

This step is optional. You can skip this step if you prefer to save a little time.

Heat a medium sized non-stick skillet to medium heat.

Dump the almonds onto the pan and spread them out evenly. Stir and flip the almonds every 5 seconds until they start to brown.

sliced almonds in a grey nonstick skillet

toasted almonds, sliced, in a grey non-stick skillet

All of the almonds will not turn brown. Once about half of them are a light to medium golden brown remove from the stove. Dump the almonds on a generous sheet of parchment paper, spread out evenly and allow to cool.

How to make a brown sugar oatmeal base for Cherry Almond Dessert Bars …..

While the almonds are cooling, prepare an electric hand mixer. With the mixer on medium speed, beat the softened butter in a large bowl for half a minute. This will smooth out the butter and fluff it up a bit.

Gradually add in the brown sugar and the baking powder, make sure to pause on occasion and scrap the sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula. Now beat in the almond extract and the egg until well combined. (I love the smell of almond extract and I typically add a little extra when I bake with it. I love the flavor boost!)

a white bowl with butter, brown sugar, and baking powder being mixed with an electric mixer

butter, brown sugar, baking powder, almond extract and an egg mixed in a white bowl with electric mixer

With a sturdy spoon stir in the flour and oatmeal. Take a small handful of almonds, 1 – 2 tablespoons, and set aside for the topping. Stir the rest of the almonds into the dough.

Now take out 1/2 cup of the dough, transfer dough to a small bowl and set aside for the topping.

Put the remaining dough on the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread out the dough in an even layer in the bottom of your pan. I prefer to use my fingers!

brown sugar dough being mixed in with sliced almonds and oatmeal

brown sugar and oatmeal bars with cherry preserves being spread on top by a white spatula

Fruit filling and toppings for Cherry Almond Dessert Bars

Evenly spread the cherry preserves on top of the bottom crust with a spoon or spatula. (The recipe calls for 12 ounces of preserves, I have been known to add an extra ounce or two for extra fruit filling. The cherries are more tart so keep that in mind.)

Take the 1/2 cup of dough that was set aside and evenly crumble it on top of the cherry filling. Now sprinkle on the remainder of the almonds.

cherry almond deseert bars in a pan lined with parchment paper

Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until the top has turned golden brown.

Allow the bars to cool in the pan on a wire rack. Once the bars have cooled to room temperature, remove from the pan.

I don’t know why it feels so satisfying to lift the whole pan of bars out of the pan … but it does! Move the bars to a cutting board and slice them with a large sharp knife. If you did not use a lining, no worries, cut them in the pan.

I like to cut mine into cherry almond squares. You can also cut them into 4-inch long strips. A smaller size bar would be fun for bite size servings. There you have it! Delicious cherry almond cookie bars to enjoy! Yum!

5 cherry almond dessert bars stacked on a cutting board

Storage Instructions & Final Thoughts

Store the cherry almond dessert bars in an airtight container, in the refregerator, for up to 3 days. You can also freeze these bars for 1 – 2 months in an airtight freezer-safe container. I like to add a layer of cling wrap to the container for an extra seal.

You can easliy double this recipe, for a large batch, and bake in a jelly roll pan. This would be great for a big gathering or picnic. You could also make a double batch and freeze half of them for a later date. Make sure to store these bars in a single layer so the filling does not stick to the other bars.

Make sure to try these sweet cherry almond bars! I’m beyond confident you will love them!

hand holding a cherry almond dessert bar with a bite taken out of it

More Dessert Recipes Here ……

Best Monster Cookie Bars (without butter)

Chewy Oatmeal Apricot Cookies (with chocolate chip)

Easy Peach Cobbler Dump Cake Recipe (with white cake mix)

How did your cherry bars turn out?

Did you try any other flavors of fruit preserves? Let me know below!

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed. – Proverbs 15:22

Cherry Almond Dessert Bars – with toasted almonds

These cherry almond dessert bars are a scrumptious combination of cherries and almonds on top of a brown sugar and oatmeal cookie base! They are sweet and chewy bars.

Delightful for any time of year, particulary in the fall and summer months. The ingredients are simple, easy to keep on hand and easy to find in the grocery store. Enjoy!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Total Time 35

Servings 16 servings

Ingredients

1/2 cup almonds sliced
1 cup butter softened
2 cups brown sugar packed
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 tsp almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cup old fashioned oatmeal
12 oz cherry preserves

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease or line a 13 x 9 baking pan with foil or parchment paper. Make sure to grease the foil, if using. Lining the pan will allow you to easily lift the bars out of the pan for easier cutting.
OPTIONAL STEP – TOASTING THE ALMONDS – Heat a medium sized non-stick skillet to medium heat. Dump the almonds into the pan and spread out evenly. Stir and flip the almonds every 5 seconds until some of the almonds turn golden brown. Spread out on a plate or piece of foil/parchment paper to cool.
With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the softened butter in a large bowl for half a minute. Gradually add in brown sugar and baking powder. Make sure to clean the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Mix in almond extract and the egg until well combined.
With a sturdy spoon, stir in the flour and oatmeal.
Set aside 1 – 2 tablespoons of the almonds for the topping. Add the rest of the almonds to the batter and stir in to combine.
Seperate out 1/2 cup of the dough and set aside for the topping. Evenly press the remaining dough into the bottom of the prepared pan.
Evenly spread the cherry preserves on top of the dough. Take the 1/2 cup of dough that was set aside and evenly crumble it on top of the cherry filling. Now sprinkle on the remainder of the almonds.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until they are a light golden brown.

Notes

COOL & SLICE – Set the pan to cool on a wire rack. Once the bars have cooled, if you lined the pan, remove them from the pan to a cutting board for easier cutting.

I like to cut mine into cherry almond squares but you could also cut them into 4-inch long strips. A smaller size bar would be fun for bite size servings.

STORAGE – Store bars in an airtight container, in the refregerator, for up to 3 days. You can also freeze these bars for one to two months in an airtight freezer safe container. I like to add a layer or cling wrap to the container for an extra seal. Store them in a single layer.

LAST THOUGHTS – You can easliy double this recipe and make a large batch in a jelly roll pan or cookie sheet. I have been known to add an extra ounce or two of the fruit preserves. Cherry preserves will be more tart, so keep that in mind.

Mix up the flavors – this can be made with most any flavor of fruit preserves… try strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, or apricot preserves!

Look for fresh fruit preserves at your local farmers market or orchard!

*** This recipe was apdated from Better Homes & Garden – Chewy Cherry Almond Bars Recipe, 2012