Cherry Cream Cheese Bars

Cherry Cream Cheese Bars

Delicious cream cheese treat that can be served as breakfast, dessert or snack. Very popular as an after-dinner dessert when served with coffee. Best if chilled prior to serving.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 24 minutes
Resting Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 24 bars
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

Crust
  • 1 cup walnuts (divided in half)
  • 1 1/4 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup flaked coconut
Filling
  • 1 8 oz. package cream cheese
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 can cherry pie filling

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven 350 degrees
  2. Grease bottom of 13 X 9 X 2 pan
  3. Chop 1/2 cup walnuts coarsely for topping
  4. Chop remaining 1/2 cup finely
  5. For crust: Combine flour & brown sugar
  6. Cut in butter until fine crumbs form
  7. Add 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts & coconut
  8. Mix well
  9. Remove 1/2 cup of crust mixture & set aside
  10. Press remaining crumbs into pan
  11. Bake 350 degree for 15 minutes
  12. For Filling: beat cream cheese, sugar, egg & vanilla until smooth
  13. Spread over hot baked crust
  14. Return to oven & bake for 10 minutes
  15. Spread cherry pie filling over cheese layer
  16. Combine reserved coarsely chopped nuts & reserved crumbs
  17. Sprinkle evenly over cherries
  18. Return to oven & bake 15 minutes longer
  19. Cool & cut into bars
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