Summer Cherry Shortbread Bars

Sweet cherries are here and they are irresistible. These summer cherry shortbread bars are a must-make if you are a cookie/bar lover like I am. Effortless in preparation, these bars bake up in no time and feel like the perfect cross between a cookie and a pie. The best part, they are not nearly as time-consuming as pie making.

This recipe is not mine, it is from another blogger I adore. Sue, and her blog, The View from Great Island, are the brains behind the lovely fruit bar recipe that never disappoints. I have adapted the recipe only slightly, the original one can be seen here.

The only hard rule with making these cherry shortbread bars is using fresh cherries. Frozen fruit or cherries that have been canned or jarred will not do it, so no shortcuts. Truthfully, pitting cherries is nothing anyone loves to do, but it’s not as time-consuming as one would think. Like many things, there is a gadget to help you if you need one, but I just use my fingertip to split the cherry and pull out the pit. You only need 2 1/2 cups of cherries, so you’re talking about 10 minutes to pit the cherries once you get the hang of it.

Health Benefits of Cherries

Cherries, a small stone fruit, is loaded with goodness and come in a variety of colors and flavors. There are two major categories — tart and sweet cherries. Their colors can vary from yellow to deep blackish-red. All varieties of cherries are highly nutritious and packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

One cup of sweet, raw, pitted cherries provides the following:

• Calories: 97
• Protein: 2 grams
• Carbs: 25 grams
• Fiber: 3 grams
• Vitamin C: 18% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Potassium: 10% of the DV
• Copper: 5% of the DV
• Manganese: 5% of the DV

Variety-wise, there are many types of cherries to choose from. And you may prefer one kind more than the other.  Below is a breakdown of the cherries you typically see.  For this recipe, I used fresh farmers market Bing cherries, which are my younger son’s favorite.

Types of Cherries

• Bing Cherries: The most common type of dark sweet cherry you’ll find at the grocery store, fresh and frozen form. Firm, juicy, and sweet, heart-shaped cherries.
• Ranier Cherries: Named for the highest peak in Washington State, Rainier cherries are easy to identify, thanks to their distinctive yellow-and-red flesh. They’re slightly sweeter than Bing cherries.
• Chelan Cherries: Known also as black cherries, Chelan cherries resemble Bing cherries in appearance but have a milder taste.
• Montmorency Cherries: Michigan, Montmorency cherries are the most popular sour cherries in the U.S. You can typically find them frozen or canned, rather than fresh. Classic sour cherry pies are typically made with this variety.
• English Morello Cherries: The other popular type of sour cherry is the English Morello. You can usually find this variety jarred in light syrup at the grocery store.
• Maraschino Cherries: Chewy, bright red cherries that top Shirley Temples aren’t a cherry variety, they are sweet cherries that have been preserved in brine, sweetened, and dyed with food coloring.
• Amarena Cherries: These dark sour cherries are native to Italy and typically come bottled or jarred in syrup. These are ideal for cocktails.

So my cherry-loving friends, if you’ve got some fresh cherries give this lovely, simple recipe a go and treat yourself to these seasonal buttery berry bars before summer (and cherry season) slips away.