Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (8.5 oz) Sugar Cookie Mix
- 4 tbsp Butter, Cold
- 1 (8 oz) Cream Cheese, Softened
- 1/4 cup Sugar
- 1 tbsp Flour
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla
- 1 Egg
- 3/4 can Cherry Pie Filling
- 1/3 cup Almonds, Sliced
Instructions
- Preheat and prep: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and greasing your 8×8 pan with non-stick spray. I like to line the pan with parchment paper for easy removal later.
- Make the crust: In a small bowl, combine the sugar cookie mix and cold, cubed butter. Use a fork or your fingers to mix until crumbly. It should resemble wet sand with a few pea-sized bits of butter. Set aside 3/4 cup of this mixture for the topping, then press the rest firmly into the bottom of your pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then pop it in the fridge to cool. (Cooling helps the crust firm up, so it doesn’t mix with the cheesecake layer.)
- Prepare the cheesecake layer: While the crust is chilling, beat the softened cream cheese, sugar, flour, vanilla, and egg in a mixing bowl until smooth. You want it creamy and lump-free, so scrape down the sides of the bowl as you go.
- Assemble the layers: Spread the cheesecake mixture evenly over the cooled crust. Spoon the cherry pie filling over the top, spreading it gently to cover the cheesecake layer without mixing them.
- Make the streusel topping: Stir the sliced almonds into the reserved sugar cookie mixture. Sprinkle this crumble evenly over the cherry layer, covering as much as possible for a golden, crunchy top.
- Bake to perfection: Bake the bars for 40 minutes. They’ll be golden on top and slightly jiggly in the center (don’t worry—they’ll firm up as they cool). Let them cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, then refrigerate until completely cold and set, about 2 hours.
Notes
How to serve these festive bars
Presentation matters, especially during the holidays! Slice the bars into neat squares and arrange them on a pretty platter. A light dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of melted white chocolate adds an extra festive touch. These bars pair beautifully with coffee or tea for an afternoon treat, or serve them as the grand finale to your holiday dinner.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert