Fruity Shirley Temple Bars
These Fruity Shirley Temple Bars. Are a fun. And fruity twist. On a classic dessert! Packed with maraschino cherries. And lime zest. The bars have just. The right balance of sweetness. And tang. The Grenadine-infused cream cheese frosting. Adds a nostalgic touch. That takes them. To the next level. I first made these. For a family gathering. And they were a tremendous hit! The bright pink frosting. And bursts of cherry flavor. Make these bars. Both visually stunning. And incredibly delicious.
12 Servings
Ingredients
- 3/4 c chopped maraschino cherries
- 1 c softened butter
- 1 c granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp lime zest
- 2 1/4 c all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
For the Frosting:
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/4 c butter softened
- 3 tbsp Grenadine syrup
- 1 tbsp maraschino cherry juice
- 1 to 1 1/2 c powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. And grease. A 9x9-inch baking pan.
- In a large mixing bowl. Cream together the butter. And sugar. Until smooth. Whip in the eggs. One at a time. Then stir in the vanilla extract. And lime zest.
- In a separate bowl. Whisk together the flour, and salt. And baking powder. Gradually add the dry mixture. Into the wet ingredients. Stirring until just combined. Fold in the chopped maraschino cherries. Be careful. Not to overmix.
- Spread the batter evenly. Into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 16-18 minutes. Or until a toothpick. Inserted in the center. Comes out clean. Let the bars cool completely. In the pan.
- For the frosting. Beat together the softened cream cheese. And butter. Until smooth. Add in the Grenadine syrup. And cherry juice. Then gradually mix in the powdered sugar. Until you reach your desired frosting consistency. Refrigerate the frosting. Until the bars are ready.
- Once the bars. Have fully cooled. Spread the frosting evenly. Over the top. Chill before serving. For the most satisfactory results. Enjoy!
Notes
To make these bars gluten-free. Swap the all-purpose flour. With a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend. This way, you’ll still get that soft, cakey texture. Without any gluten. Be sure to check that your baking powder. And other ingredients. Are certified gluten-free. To avoid any cross-contamination. The maraschino cherries, Grenadine syrup. And other ingredients are naturally gluten-free. So you can still enjoy all the classic flavors. While keeping it safe. For those with gluten sensitivities!