Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy.
Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
Assemble the Layers: Spread two-thirds of the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. Spread the cherry pie filling over the batter. Drop spoonfuls of the remaining batter over the cherries, leaving some gaps for the filling to peek through.
Bake:
Bake the Bars: Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and set. Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the pan.
Prepare the Glaze:
Mix the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract until smooth. Add more milk if the glaze is too thick.
Glaze and Serve:
Drizzle the Glaze: Drizzle the glaze over the cooled bars. Allow the glaze to set for 10 minutes before slicing.