Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking pan to prevent sticking.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure to fully incorporate each egg before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl, mix the flour and salt together. Gradually add this mixture to the butter mixture until everything is fully combined.

Spread 3 cups of the batter evenly across the bottom of the greased baking pan.

Layer the cherry pie filling over the batter, spreading it out gently so it covers the surface.

Take the remaining batter and drop small clumps over the cherry filling.

Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean when it’s done.

Let the bars cool completely on a wire rack before adding the glaze.

For the optional glaze, mix the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract together until smooth. Drizzle it over the cooled bars.

Allow the glaze to set, then slice into bars and enjoy!