Christmas Cherry Chews Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup flour, oats, 1 cup brown sugar, baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Rub in the 1/2 cup of butter until crumbly. Press into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking pan.
• Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove and cool. Make the filling while the crust is baking. In a medium bowl, beat eggs, almond extract, 1 cup of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of flour, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt until smooth. Stir in the coconut, cherries and pecans. Spread over the pre-baked crust.
• Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until light brown. Let cool before icing.
• To make the icing, mix together the remaining 6 tablespoons butter, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Gradually add the reserved cherry juice until the desired consistency is reached. Drizzle over cooled bars before cutting into squares.

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease a 9" x 13" baking pan.
• In a bowl, mix together the first 5 ingredients.
• Cut in the cold butter with a pastry blender until crumbly.
• Press mixture into the prepared baking pan.
• Bake for 8-9 minutes (don't overbake); remove and cool.
• Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees.
• In a bowl, combine all topping ingredients; mix well.
• Spread topping over the cooled base.
• Sprinkle with pecan halves over top.
• Return to oven; bake for 30 minutes longer.
• Cool, cut into squares.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350.
• Mix flour, rolled oats, 1 cup brown sugar, baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add 1/2 cup butter and mix until crumbly, first with a fork, then with fingers. Press mixture into a greased 9x13-inch pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
• Beat eggs, stir in remaining brown sugar and almond extract. Mix flour, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt together, then stir into egg mixture. Add coconut and cherries and stir to blend. Pour over first mixture and spread evenly. Sprinkle with pecans. Return to oven and bake 25 minutes, or until lightly browned.
• Cool and ice with Cherry-Almond Icing. Cut in 1 1/2 x 3" squares, or bars.
• Cherry Almond Icing:.
• Blend remaining 3 tablespoons butter and icing sugar. Add reserved cherry juice and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract, using enough juice to make the icing easy to spread. Stir until smooth.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extract. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in coconut and nuts if desired. , Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto lightly greased baking sheets. Place a cherry half in the center of each. Bake at 350° for 12-14 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.