Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 8x8 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray then line it with parchment paper and give it another spray
Blend the graham crackers in a food processor until you have a fine crumb. Pour them into a bowl and add melted butter and salt. Mix well
Press the graham crust firmly into the bottom of your pan. Use the bottom of a measuring cup to help press down
Bake the crust for 10 minutes then let it cool on a wire rack on the counter until needed
Turn the oven down to 325°F
Making the Topping
Smash the graham topping into a large crumb then add the butter, amaretto and salt. Mix well then set aside
Making the Filling
Beat the room temperature cream cheese just until smooth. Add the sugar, vanilla and salt then beat on medium speed just until combined
Mix in the sour cream
Add the eggs one at a time mixing well between each addition
Mix in the almond extract and amaretto
Making the Cheesecake Bars
Spread the cherry pie filling evenly over the crust
Add the cheesecake mixture and spread evenly over the top of the cherries then sprinkle the amaretto graham topping evenly over the top
Bake for 40-50 minutes. The edges will be puffed and the middle will be slightly jiggly
Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool for 1 hour on a wire rack on the counter. Transfer them to the fridge for at least 4 hours and up to overnight before serving
Garnish with fresh cherries if desired and cut into squares
Notes
Do not overbake the Amaretto Cherry Cheesecake Bars. They will look slightly puffed on the sides and a little wobbly in the center. The bars will firm up once fully cooled
Line your baking dish with parchment paper. This makes for easy removal of the cherry cheesecake bars after cooling
Drop your pan on the counter a couple times. After adding the cheesecake filling to the pan, drop it on the counter a few times from about an inch up. This helps get the air bubbles out of the filling
If you have your own homemade cherry pie filling, feel free to use that too
Let the cheesecake bars FULLY cool before cutting into them
Use room temperature eggs, they blend better into the filling and you'll get better results. If you forget to take your eggs out ahead of time then just fill a bowl with warm water and set your eggs in it for 5-10 minutes
Make sure to use softened cream cheese to get a smooth and creamy filling