How to Make Some yummy Cherry Cheese Bars

Just the title of this sweetmeat is adequate to make one's mouth water! Cherry and Cheese, wow! whether for dessert, a coffee klatch, church potluck, etc, these Cherry Cheese Bars will be a big hit! These bars will satisfy everybody from the youngsters to the grandparents. Treat your family and/or friends soon! We have also included directions for making this recipe diabetic friendly, if desired.

Cherry Cheese Bars
Crust:
1 cup walnut pieces, divided
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter flavored shortening
1/2 cup flaked coconut

12 OUNCES EQUALS HOW MANY CUPS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan and set aside.

Coarsely chop 1/2 cup of the nuts for topping; set aside.

Finely chop the remaining walnuts.

In a medium bowl, merge the flour and brown sugar. Cut in the butter flavored shortening until mixture forms fine crumbs. Stir in the finely chopped walnuts and the coconut; mix well. Remove 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture and set aside. Press the remaining mixture onto the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.

Filling:
2 pkgs (8-oz each) cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 tsps vanilla
1 can (21-oz) cherry pie filling

In a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla at medium speed until smooth. Spread over the hot baked crust and return pan to the oven. Bake another 15 minutes. Remove from oven and spread the cherry pie filling over the cream cheese layer. merge the reserved coarsely chopped walnuts and the reserved crumbs. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the cherries. Return to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes. Cool. Refrigerate for some hours before serving. To serve, cut into 36 bars.

Note: You can make this recipe diabetic cordial by substituting 1/4 cup Splenda Brown Sugar Blend for the brown sugar in the crust. For the filling, substitute an equal estimate of Splenda granular for the granulated sugar. Substitute "No sugar added", Splenda sweetened cherry pie filling.

Enjoy!

How to Make Some yummy Cherry Cheese Bars

12 OUNCES EQUALS HOW MANY CUPS