CHEERY CHERRY CHEESE BARS

Cheery Cherry Cheese Bars image

Provided by Kelly Williams

Time 1h

Number Of Ingredients 12

CRUST:
1 cup walnut pieces, *divided
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup butter flavor crisco
1/2 cup sweetened flake coconut
FILLING:
2 ( 8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese, softened (16 oz. total)
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 (21 oz.) can cherry pie filling, or you can use another flavor if preferred

Steps:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13x9x2-inch pan. *Or line pan with foil and spray pan for easy removal and cutting later. 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 into 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. Cut into 2 x 1 1/2" bars or small squares for parties ir cookie trays.