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.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 24 minutes
Resting Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 24 bars

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

Instructions
 

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