CHERRY CREAM CHEESE BARS RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Grease a 13x9x2-inch pan.
• Coarsely chop 1/2 cup nuts for the topping. Set aside.
• Finely chop remaining 1/2 cup nuts.
• Combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in shortening until fine crumbs form. Add finely chopped nuts and coconut.
• Remove 1/2 cup of this mixture and set aside.
• Press remaining crumbs in bottom of pan. Bake at 350°F for 12-15 minutes until edges are lightly browned.
• Beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla at medium speed until smooth. Spread over hot, baked crust. Return to oven and bake 15 minutes longer.
• Spread cherry pie filling over cheese layer.
• Combine reserved nuts and reserved crumbs. Sprinkle over cherries. Return to oven and bake 15 minutes more. Cool. Refrigerate several hours.

Steps:

• HEAT oven to 350°F. Spray 13 x 9-inch pan with no-stick cooking spray. Combine sugar and butter in large bowl; beat until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks; beat well.
• ADD 3 cups flour and salt, Blend well. Reserve 1 cup of mixture. With floured fingers, press remaining mixture in bottom of prepared pan. Bake 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven. Cool 30 minutes.
• ADD remaining 1/4 cup flour to reserved butter mixture. Blend with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
• COMBINE cream cheese and egg in small bowl; beat until smooth.
• SPREAD cream cheese mixture evenly over partially baked crust. Carefully spoon and spread cherry preserves over cream cheese mixture. (Preserves will not completely cover cream cheese mixture.) Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Return to oven. Bake an additional 35 to 40 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 1 hour or until completely cooled. Cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.