6.25.2011

The Picnic Game: Cherry Bars in a Jar


Did you ever play the picnic game as a child? Well, Louise at Months of Edible Celebrations is hosting a virtual Picnic. In order to participate in the Picnic Game, each blogger chooses a letter and brings a dish that begins with that letter.  Join in the fun!



I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing.....

A: Apricot Cobbler from Mae at Mae's Food Blog
 


                    





B:  Banana Cream Pie from Marjie at Modern Day Ozzie and Harriet




And my letter is C: Cherry Bars in a Jar

Be sure to visit Louise for all the other letters and their matching dishes!

Back in the 60's, I made these gems all the time. Such a simple dessert when you're in a hurry and I've always made the recipe in bar form. But recently I remembered the little Ball jars I made my mother's rhubarb pie in. Why not make Cherry Bars in those? I love individual servings like this. So you have a choice...make this as a bar, using a rectangular pan, or make it in oven proof individual dishes like these. This is an easy dessert to serve on a picnic as you can use canned pie filling on top, screw the jar tops back on and pop them in your basket. I know it's called "cherry", but I've also made it with rhubarb curd (if you have any rhubarb in your garden) and roasted fruit. So use any fruit you want; take the fast and easy road with canned pie fillings or make it more elegant with homemade fresh fruit toppings. For Louise's 4th of July virtual picnic, I thought the bright red cherries were very appropriate.
The filling may look like cheesecake, but it's not nearly as dense.

Cherry Bars in a Jar





Ingredients:

16 graham crackers, crushed
1/3 cup  butter, soft
1/2 cup  sugar
1 8 oz  pkg cream cheese
1/2 cup  sugar
2 eggs  
1 can  cherry pie filling

Method:

Mix grahams, sugar and butter. Press into the little Ball jars or press into a 9 by 13 pan.  Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth and add eggs. Pour over crumbs. Bake 325 for 25 minutes or until very lightly browned. You'll see cracks in some of the tops. That's OK. When slightly cool, pour cherry pie filling over top. Refrigerate.


You'll find the individual jars need to come to room temperature as the graham cracker crust gets quite firm. But they're still delicious no matter if you serve them cold or at room temperature.

58 comments:

  1. What a lovely dessert! A wonderful picnic item.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. Beautiful, and so portable! Perfect for the 4th!

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  3. These little jars would be perfect to put in a picnic basket! Just put the lid on them and they're all ready. :)
    They're a great way to make these yummy cherry bars portable!

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  4. with these littl gems, every day is a holiday!

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  5. Love this idea! And I have the jars.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  6. Barbara look amazing and love this idea!! what nice and the pictures are awesome!! love it! I made my second recipe right now, I had two letters, is a nice picnic I think, gloria

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  7. what a wonderful treat, and visually very nice.

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  8. These are so much fun,a nd so is this event!

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  9. Well, will you just take a look at those little darlings!!! Ingenious Barbara. They are just perfect delights of goodness for our picnic or any picnic for that matter!!!

    Thank you so much for playing the Picnic Game again Barbara. Just wait until you see what's filling our basket this year. Here's a tiny hint..Indescribable

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  10. Now that is my kind of cherry bar. It looks luscious.

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  11. A friend of mine who has a "maison secondaire" in Normandie gave me kilos of cherries!!! I didn't want to make the "famous" clafoutis, so you gave me a wonderful idea...Thanks!!!

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  12. Perfect for a picnic or any time!

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  13. I remember a dessert like that. What a wonderful idea to make them in jars. Beautiful!

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  14. What a fun game and a great end product. That is a dessert and a half. Yum!

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  15. Those little suckers are adorable! What kid (or adult) wouldn't want to eat that?

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  16. I used to love that game when I was small. The bars look so good. Love the idea of making them in a jar. So cute!

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  17. What an adorable idea - perfect for the 4th!

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  18. Ok, let's see... cherries? love them--check
    graham crust... love it-- check
    cream cheese filling..love it-- check

    Ok... this has totally passed my tests and I love those little jars...what a nice way to get a rice dessert out to the field without making a mess.

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  19. I think you have a great page here… today was my first time coming here.. I just happened to find it doing a google search. anyway, good post.. I’ll be bookmarking this page for sure.

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  20. BARBARA! I REMEMBER THESE AS A CHILD! My mom's old 1950s Betty Crocker book had something very similar to this. I only got it once but the memories are vivid! I can always count on you to bring back memories using the powerful force of imagery of food and even aroma!

    THANK YOU FOR VISITING ME THIS MORNING. Yes, that photo of the soldier is so powerful, amidst all the other glamorous photos, that one says the most. Love never fails.....Anita

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  21. This used to be what my son wanted for his birthday when he was a kid, but I stopped making it for some reason... maybe because the version I had used eggs, but wasn't baked?

    He's coming next week, so I'll fix it, now that you've taken care of the raw egg problem.

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  22. I know what I'm making for my mom for her birthday!

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  23. Wow Barbara, this is one of the most clever and neatest idea! Isn't it just cool! Like dessert in a jar! Your post have given me a bunch of different ideas for many things now! Thanks, Barbara! I wish the weather in Las Vegas is still good for picnics. Right now, we are already reaching our DAILY triple digits. Oh gosh, maybe I can go there to do picnic! It would be worth it, especially when you bring everything, hehehe!

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  24. Perfect picnic basket. Love that cherry is in season right now.

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  25. Oh, I'd just love one of these, how perfect and yummy! Everything you do on this blog is great but I especially love your little jars and verrines even if you sometimes find them dull

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  26. What a wonderful idea to bring to a July 4th gathering! I used to make a no-bake cheesecake years ago. This lighter and fluffier filling sounds wonderful.

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  27. Those are absolutely adorable! How perfect they'd be for a sunny summer picnic. :-)

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  28. these are just too cool need to get me some jars:-)

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  29. Love the picnic game, how fun, Barbara! Your cherry bars in a jar look really fantastic. In fact, I could see my mom going crazy for them...I'm going to send her the link to this post right now!

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  30. i love all the desserts in a jar and these little cherries are the cutest ever . . . but that could be because i have a thing for cherries! Happy 4th of July Barbara!!

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  31. I've never heard of that picnic game. I feel deprived! ;)
    But I love those cherry bars in a jar. Way too cute!

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  32. Oh what a fun game! These look wonderful Barbara yet very doable and quick too and I love the individual jar serve! :D

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  33. Where did you find the little jars?

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  34. Such a perfect dessert for a picnic. Indulgent and portable, what more can you ask for!

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  35. Oooh...love your dessert. Love the beautiful colours. My girl loves cheese. I think she will eat a few portions! Thanks very much for sharing.

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  36. These cherry jars are the cutest things I have seen to gobble up! Loved your blog and you have a great sense of photography.

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  37. ooooh, these are so utterly, utterly cute! Love it. Will steal idea and hopefully get to use it soon. Did you say the words "rhubarb curd" too? Be still my heart. Have you written about it before Barbara? I'll have a look through your archives to see if I can find it.

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  38. That is so creative and beautiful! How did you get the little tart out of the jar for the picture? Amazing.

    I love this kind of dessert--lots of fruit. Cherries and rhubarb (That's not a fruit, is it?) are two faves.

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  39. Hi Barbara,

    Oh what fun to go on a picnic and your desserts look delicious, served in the little jars.
    Hope that you are enjoying your week

    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  40. this is a perfect picnic treat! i've never prepared anything using jars, but it's a great idea. lovely contribution, barbara!

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  41. So delightful. The cherry bars sound very summery, but putting them into little picnic-ready jars is a wonderful idea. Very nice presentation.

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  42. Do you have a good apple cobbler recipe?

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  43. Can i go on this picnic with you daaahling? These are just so adorable :D
    *kisses* HH

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  44. I've loved seeing all the treats in a jar float across the blogosphere lately! These look especially delicious. I really love cherries!

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  45. These are adorable Barbara. Hope you have a wonderful 4th of July weekend.
    Sam

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  46. These look so yummy - and as I'm obsessed with picnics, I will definitely be trying these out! I love the idea of little miniature desserts, personalized for everyone. So cute!!

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  47. Love it! So clever, fun to eat, delicious to boot!

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  48. Brilliant idea to make cherry bar in a jar for the picnic. LOVELY!

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  49. Cool idea!! I could see all kinds of fruits in them! Perfect for picnics!

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  50. Love these! Add chocolate, and I'm good to go. Stop by T is for Tequila Truffles http://dyingforchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/06/t-is-for-tequila-truffles.html

    We're ready for the picnic!

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  51. Errr... my comment went missing!!!! Anyway, these are such tempting little devil. I think I can finish them all by myself. ha... Enjoy!
    Kristy

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  52. What a clever way to travel with an elegant dessert! I am so enjoying this picnic!

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  53. this jars are lovely, great idea for a dessert.

    Thanks you for visiting my blog Barbara, have a blessed week!

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  54. Cheesecake is just about my favourite dessert, so these look like heaven to me! What a wonderful presentation!

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  55. Yes you are talented

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  56. Hi Barbara,

    I was just passing through to add your Cherry Bars to my Pinterest Picnic Board and I was surprised to see the images are gone. Is everything okay??

    Thanks so much:) I hope you're looking forward to the Picnic Game this year as much as I am...Louise

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  57. Thanks Barbara! It worked!!! Boy oh boy they sure do sound awesome!!!

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