Easy Cherry Pie Bars A Taste of Summer Baking

Ingredients

• 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks, 226g) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups (approximately 2 lbs, 900g) fresh or frozen pitted cherries (thawed and drained if frozen)
• 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional, but adds a lovely flavor)