Cherry Almond Bars

Base and Topping
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cans cherry pie filling
1/2 cup sliced almonds

Glaze
1 cup icing sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2-3 tablespoons milk or as needed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a large cookie sheet.

Cream together the butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, then add salt, vanilla, and almond extracts and beat until creamy.

Combine flour and baking powder and mix into the wet ingredients. Do not over beat. The dough will be sticky.

With greased hands or a greased offset spatula, smooth three quarters of the batter onto the pan. Spread cherry pie filling evenly over the bottom crust. Drop small pieces of the remaining batter over the pie filling. Sprinkle sliced almonds over top.

Bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.

Once bars have cooled, whisk together icing sugar, almond extract, and as much milk as needed to reach drizzling consistency. Drizzle over the cooled bars. Cut into squares and serve. This makes 48 squares.

Adapted from Taste of Home