These festive, buttery bars with candied cherries and a hint of almond are perfect for holiday gatherings! 🎄✨

Preheat the oven:
Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
Mix the wet ingredients:
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the egg and almond extract, beating until fully combined.
Incorporate the dry ingredients:
Gradually add the flour and salt to the butter mixture, stirring just until the dough comes together. Be careful not to overmix.
Fold in the cherries and candies:
Gently fold in the chopped red and green candied cherries and crushed candy-coated chocolates until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Transfer to the pan:
Press the dough evenly into the prepared 9×13-inch baking dish, smoothing the top with a spatula.
Bake:
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the edges are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool and slice:
Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares. Serve and enjoy!