Cream Cheese Cherry Pie Crumb Bars

Ingredients

Contains: egg, milk, wheat (auto-detected from the ingredients and method; we can miss things, so check labels)

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
• 1 egg
• 24 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 (21-ounce) cans cherry pie filling
• (optional)
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 to 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Method written by CompKitchen from the ingredient list. Not the original author's method, not kitchen-tested.

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9x13-inch pan with parchment, leaving some overhang.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry cutter or your fingertips until it forms coarse crumbs.

3. Beat in the egg until the mixture clumps together. Press about half of the crumb firmly into the bottom of the pan.

4. Bake the base for 12 to 15 minutes, until just set and lightly golden. Leave the oven on.

5. Beat the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until completely smooth, with no lumps.

6. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the warm base. Spoon the cherry pie filling over the top and spread gently.

7. Crumble the remaining crumb mixture evenly over the cherries.

8. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the topping is golden and the filling is set in the center. Cool completely in the pan, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting.

9. If using the optional glaze, whisk the powdered sugar, cream or milk and vanilla until smooth, adding the liquid a little at a time, then drizzle over the chilled bars and let set before slicing.