Choco-cherry layered bars
48 Servings
Ingredients
| Quantity | Ingredient | |
|---|---|---|
| ¾ | cup | Powdered sugar |
| ¾ | cup | Margarine, softened |
| 2 | ounces | Semi-sweet chocolate, melted |
| 1½ | cup | Flour |
| ½ | teaspoon | Baking powder |
| ¼ | teaspoon | Salt |
| 1 | tablespoon | Milk |
| Topping: | ||
| ½ | cup | Maraschino cherries |
| 4 | cups | Powdered sugar |
| ½ | cup | Margarine, sotened |
| ½ | teaspoon | Rum extract |
| 3 | ounces | Cream cheese, softened |
| 1 | ounce | Semi-sweet chocolate, melted |
Directions
1. Heat oven to 325*. Grease 13X9 inch pan.
2. In large bowl, beat ¾ cup powdered sugar and ¾ cup margarine until light and fluffy. Add 2 oz melted chocolate; blend well. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. Add flour, baking powder, salt and milk to margarine mixture; blend well. Press dough in bottom of prepared pan.
3. Bake 325* for 15 - 20 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely.
4. Chop cherries; drain well, reserving 2-3 tablespoons cherry juice.
In large bowl, combine 4 cups powdered sugar, ¼ cup margarine, reserved cherry juiice, rum extract and cream cheese; beat until smooth. Stir in cherries.
5. Spread topping evenly over cooled bars. Drizzle 1 oz melted chocolate over topping.
6. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before cutting into bars. 48 bars.
NOTE: These bars have a chocolate shortbread-like crust with a creamy cherry filling. They can be baked in advance and frozen to save time.
Source: Pillsbury's Party Time Recipes Posted to Bakery-Shoppe Digest V1 #195 by novmom@... (Angela Gilliland) on Aug 17, 1997