Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease the baking pan or line it with parchment paper to make removal simple.

Pit and halve the cherries. If you use frozen cherries, thaw and drain them well so the bars do not get too wet.

In a bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until smooth. Stir in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla.

In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and pinch of salt.

Add the dry mix to the wet mix and stir until just combined. The batter will be thick but spreadable.

Spread the batter in the prepared pan in an even layer. Use a spatula or the back of a spoon to smooth the top.

Arrange the cherry halves on top of the batter. You can press them lightly into the batter so they sit tight.

Bake in the preheated oven for 25–35 minutes. Check at 25 minutes. The edges should turn light golden and the center should feel set.

A toothpick inserted near the center can come out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Allow the bars to cool in the pan on a rack.