A DELICIOUSLY SIMPLE HOMEMADE DESSERT
Is there anything prettier than a cherry or strawberry dessert? I love the colors, I love the flavors and they are perfect for the holidays. You can use any flavor pie filling to switch it up a bit. Blueberry is another favorite of mine. As always, I love adding a little almond extract along with anything cherry. It really enhances the cherry flavor without overwhelming it.
TIPS FOR MAKING CHERRY PIE BARS
- I have made this recipe with peach, strawberry, apple and blueberry pie fillings. All of them were amazing and worked perfectly!
- You will need a larger baking sheet for this. You might see it called a jelly roll pan. Trust me, it’ll get a ton of use once you make these bars one time. You’ll be hooked! I just know you are going to fall in love with these bars. The cherry filling plays peekaboo around the dollops of dough. They slice up and serve beautifully.
- If you love this recipe, be sure to go have a look at my recipe for Cherry Crumble Bars!
- These bars can be frozen.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- butter – I’m using unsalted here but you could certainly use salted. Just leave out the additional salt included in the recipe.
- sugar – I have not tried this with any sugar substitutes but it should work if you are using a 1:1 ratio sugar substitution (like Splenda for baking).
- large eggs – baked goods turn out best when all the ingredients are at room temperature so that goes for the eggs too.
- vanilla and almond extracts – the almond extract compliments the cherry flavor so well. If you just don’t like almond extract then leave it out.
- all-purpose flour – self rising flour won’t work in this recipe. Because self-rising flour has a leavening agent, it won’t turn out properly in this recipe where there is no leavening agent (like baking powder or baking soda needed).
- cherry pie filling – you can use any pie filling you love with this recipe or make your own! You could also use sugar free options.
🍒 Low-Point Cherry Pie Bars (WW-Friendly)
Ingredients:
For the base:
- 1 cup oat flour (or blended oats)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup low-calorie sweetener (erythritol or stevia blend)
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
For the filling:
- 1.5 cups cherries (fresh or frozen, unsweetened)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1–2 tbsp sweetener (adjust to taste)
Optional drizzle:
- 2 tbsp light cream cheese
- 1–2 tbsp 0% Greek yogurt
- Sweetener to taste
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
- In a bowl, mix all base ingredients until smooth.
- Spread the batter evenly into a small baking dish.
- In another bowl, mix cherries, cornstarch, and sweetener.
- Spoon the cherry mixture over the base.
- (Optional) Add a few spoonfuls of the base mixture on top for a crumble effect.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes.
- Let cool, then drizzle with the light cream cheese topping if desired.
WW Points (approximate):
- Whole recipe: ~12–14 points
- Per bar (cut into 8): 👉 1.5–2 points each
Lasha