Chocolate Drizzle Cherry Bars
Chewy cherry bars with a crunchy oat crust, topped with a sweet cherry filling and drizzled with rich chocolate for a delightful treat suitable for all.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, and softened butter.
- Beat at low speed until the mixture becomes crumbly.
- Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture for topping.
- Press the remaining crumb mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Spread cherry pie filling over the baked crust.
- Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture over the cherry filling.
- In a small saucepan, melt semi-sweet chocolate chips with shortening over low heat.
- Drizzle the melted chocolate over the assembled bars before serving.
Tips & Substitutions
For a nutty flavor, consider adding chopped walnuts or pecans to the crumb mixture. You can replace the cherry pie filling with other fruit fillings like blueberry or apple for a different twist. If you prefer a less sweet dessert, reduce the sugar by 1/4 cup. For a richer chocolate drizzle, try using dark chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these chocolate drizzle cherry bars with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delightful dessert. They also pair wonderfully with a cup of coffee or tea. For a festive touch, sprinkle some powdered sugar on top before serving. These bars are perfect for gatherings and can be enjoyed alongside other sweet treats like Foolproof Key Lime Pie.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftover cherry bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate them for up to a week. To reheat, place individual bars in the microwave for 10-15 seconds until warm, or enjoy them cold for a refreshing treat.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Chocolate Drizzle Cherry Bars contains roughly 1698 calories, with 31g protein, 169g carbohydrates, and 103g fat. It is an excellent source of dietary fiber (73% of the Daily Value), protein (61% of the Daily Value), and iron (55% of the Daily Value). It also contributes 20g of dietary fiber toward your daily target.
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use fresh cherries instead of cherry pie filling?
Absolutely! If using fresh cherries, pit and slice about 2 cups of cherries. You may want to add a bit of sugar and cornstarch to mimic the filling's texture and sweetness. This offers a fresher taste and can elevate the bars to a new level.
Can I make these bars gluten-free?
Yes, you can make gluten-free chocolate drizzle cherry bars by substituting all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. Just ensure that the oats are certified gluten-free as well. The result will still be delicious and suitable for those avoiding gluten.
How can I make the bars more chocolatey?
To enhance the chocolate flavor, you can increase the amount of semi-sweet chocolate chips to 1 cup and mix some into the crumb mixture before baking. Adding cocoa powder to the flour can also deepen the chocolate profile, making these bars even more indulgent.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).