Cherry Bars

My niece, Amy, gave me this recipe she got from my sister, Kay Stone.  I think it was originally a recipe from the 1951 Pillsbury Bake Off from Deanna Thompson, of Alexandria, Minnesota, although I have seen it or versions of it in many other cookbooks, especially community cookbooks. The original recipe calls for coconut; Kay didn’t use it, and neither did I.  Kay, like Myrna, was an award-winning cook whose recipe judgment was right on - both of them are a hard act to follow.  I did try drizzling a little melted chocolate over some of the bars – chocolate cherry bars? We liked these, as did our coffee-time guests.
Cherry Bars
Cookie Base
1 Cup Flour, All-purpose
1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar
1/2 Cup Butter
Topping
1/4 Cup Flour, All-purpose
3/4 Cup Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
2 Large Eggs
1/2 Cup Maraschino Cherries -- chopped
1/2 Cup Nuts -- chopped
1/2 Cup Coconut, Shredded -- (optional - my sister didn't use it)
Mix first 3 ingredients together and press into a 9" square pan. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes.
Combine the remaining ingredients and spread over the baked cookie base. Return to the oven and bake 30-40 minutes. Cut in 16 squares.
2010 cost: $2.09 without coconut or 14¢ per bar. $2.21 with coconut.
Per Serving: 176 Calories; 9g Fat (45.0% calories from fat); 3g Protein; 22g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 42mg Cholesterol; 120mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1/2 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 1 1/2 Fat; 1 Other Carbohydrates.

1 comment:

  1. Those look delicious!!! My mother in law loves cherries and we buy her some chocolate covered ones every year. These would be so wonderful to try.

    I love your blog. I read through all my bloglist in a reader. I only see the first part of your posts and have to click through to see the rest. Being a busy homeschooling mom of five I just don't have a lot of time to click through a lot of posts so I usually delete blogs that are not visible in the reader. I love you so much and would hate to miss a post b/c I don't see it as I scan down my reader list, so I am begging you to make it available in the reader. I know it is your blog and you have full right to do what you wish, and I certainly do not want to come across demanding something, but please consider it.
    I lost my mom within the month of my 18th birthday and my way of learning to be a mom, wife, and take care of a home has come from magazines, home shows on TV and now blogs. I grew up in a divorced home so home cooking was relagated to weekends and special occasions. I hope you know how many women need to learn the basics of good home cooked meals and such. By the way, I found you through BWH or either the Homesteading Today forums. I have never posted there, but love to see the frugal tips pages.

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