Easy Cherry Lemonade Bars Recipe

This easy Cherry Lemonade Bars recipe results in a sweet but tart bar smothered in a cherry flavoured glaze. A new favourite dessert bar!

These lemon bars feature a soft lemon sugar cookie base that is perfectly fluffy and moist with a not-too-tart flavour you will love.

The cherry glaze is simple but pairs wonderfully with the lemon bar underneath.

Variations of Lemonade Bar Flavours

You can easily change up these lemonade bars by trying different glaze flavours. Try these instead of the cherry glaze.

• Extra Lemony Lemonade Bars – Swap lemon juice for the cherry juice.
• Strawberry Lemonade Bars – Use 1/4 cup pureed strawberries in place of the cherry juice.
• Blueberry Lemonade Bars – Use 1/4 cup pureed blueberries in place of the cherry juice.

How to Store Cherry Lemonade Bars

These bars keep well at room temperature. They are best if stored lightly tented over with foil in a cool room for up to 3 days.

You can also keep in an airtight container in the fridge, however the glaze will soften up from the moisture and get sticky.

You can also freeze the bars without the glaze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

About the Ingredients for Cherry Lemonade Bars

Butter – Use unstalted butter as the amount of salt in different brands of butter can vary. Salted is OK too, just omit the additional salt. (I always bake with salted unless testing a recipe, and never had problems. Using unsalted is standard for baking though.)

Sugar – Use regular granulated sugar to sweeten things up.

Eggs – Make sure your egg is at room temperature before starting.

Lemon – You want to use fresh lemon juice and lemon zest here for best flavour. In a pinch you can use bottled lemon juice.

Salt – Makes that lemon flavour sing!

Flour – Plain old all-purpose flour is best, but you can also use cake flour instead. Be sure to spoon and level!

Powdered Sugar – Also known as icing sugar or confectioners sugar, this is perfect for making a smooth, sweet glaze.

Maraschino Cherry Juice – The juice from a jar of maraschino cherries. This gives the glaze it’s gorgeous pink colour.

Looking for more Easy Lemon Dessert Recipes?

Check out some of my favourite easy to make lemon desserts:

Grab your spoons, and prepare for a pudding indulgence! This Lemon Cream Cheese Pudding is smooth, tangy, light and creamy.  This is one dreamy dessert!

This Easy Lemon Fudge Recipe is a simple and super quick lemon dessert; this quick fudge is bursting with fresh and zesty lemon flavour.

Whipped cream cheese frosting & fresh blueberries fill this Blueberry Lemon Cake Roll (Swiss Roll) a delicious dessert that gets rave reviews!

How to Make Cherry Lemonade Bars

Makes 15 Bars | Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 18 mins | Cooling Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

1/2 C unsalted butter, softened
3/4 C sugar
2 large eggs
1 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1 large lemon zested
3/4 C flour

Glaze Ingredients:

1 C powdered sugar
3-4 tbsp Maraschino cherry juice
1 large lemon zested

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper

Using a large bowl and hand mixer, beat together the butter, sugar, eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest

Using a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and salt until combined

Gradually beat in the dry ingredients

Pour the batter into the baking dish and bake for 15-18 minutes or until the sides start to brown

Allow to cool for 15 minutes

Using a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, cherry juice and lemon zest

Pour the glaze over the bars and spread evenly

Allow the glaze to harden before cutting into bars and enjoying.