Cookies are great any time of year, and the good, old standbys like oatmeal, sugar, peanut butter and chocolate chip are ever popular. Sometimes, though, you have a craving for something new.
These Chewy Cherry Bars not only offer a change of pace, but also they are tasty and easy to make. There’s not a lot of cleanup either since you only use one bowl and then just one pan instead of multiple cookie sheets.
The bright, red cherries in these bars give them such an appetizing appeal, and the buttery crust just melts in your mouth. The bars also are chock-full of delicious walnuts, coconut and maraschino cherries.
CHEWY CHERRY BARS
CRUST:
1 cup regular flour
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup margarine or butter, softened
FILLING:
1/4 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup maraschino cherries, well drained and chopped
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
For crust, lightly spoon flour into measuring cup. In a small mixing bowl, combine 1 cup flour and powdered sugar. Using a fork or pastry blender, cut in margarine or butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press crumb mixture firmly in bottom of ungreased 9-inch square pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile make filling by combining, in same small mixing bowl, 1/2 cup flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add eggs, beat well.
Stir in cherries, coconut and walnuts. Spread over partially baked crust. Return to oven and bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool completely. Then, garnish with additional powdered sugar and cut into 16 bars for larger pieces or 25 squares for smaller ones.
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