Cherry Cheese Bars

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup walnuts, divided
• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup butter flavor shortening
• 1/2 cup coconut
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 (21 ounce) can cherry pie filling

Recipe

• 1 heat oven to 350°f.
• 2 grease a 13x9x2-inch pan.
• 3 coarsely chop 1/2 cup nuts for the topping. set aside.
• 4 finely chop remaining 1/2 cup nuts.
• 5 combine flour and brown sugar. cut in shortening until fine crumbs form. add finely chopped nuts and coconut.
• 6 remove 1/2 cup of this mixture and set aside.
• 7 press remaining crumbs in bottom of pan. bake at 350°f for 12-15 minutes until edges are lightly browned.
• 8 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.
• 9 spread cherry pie filling over cheese layer.
• 10 combine reserved nuts and reserved crumbs. sprinkle over cherries. return to oven and bake 15 minutes more. cool. refrigerate several hours.