1-Getting ready to bake Christmas Cherry Bars: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and giving a 15 x 10 inch sheet pan or 9 x 13 inch casserole dish a quick spray of non-stick coating. This prep work helps everything bake evenly and come out just right.

2-Cream together ingredients: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and salt until the mixture turns light and fluffy this usually takes a couple of minutes with a mixer. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each, then stir in the almond extract for that extra flavor boost. Gradually mix in the all-purpose flour on low speed, and once that’s blended, fold in the cinnamon and nutmeg by hand to keep those spices evenly distributed.

3-Prepare pan and bake: Pour about 3 cups of the batter into your prepared pan and smooth it out to form an even layer. Spoon the cherry pie filling over the top, spreading it around but leaving some spaces for that layered effect. Drop the remaining batter in random spots over the filling, then slide the pan into the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top turns a lovely golden brown.

4-Cooling and Glazing Steps: After baking, let the bars cool completely in the pan to set properly this makes slicing easier and keeps the texture just right. Once cooled, whisk together the glaze by combining the confectioners’ sugar, almond extract, and milk until it’s smooth and pourable, adding a bit more milk if it needs to thin out. Drizzle the glaze over the bars, let it set for a few minutes, then cut into squares and serve them up for a crowd-pleasing dessert.