Chocolate-Drizzled Cherry Bars

Name: Chocolate-Drizzled Cherry Bars
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 3 dozen.
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 2 cups quick-cooking oats; 1-1/2 cups sugar; 1-1/4 cups butter, softened; 1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling; 1 teaspoon almond extract; 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips; 3/4 teaspoon shortening

I've been making bars since I was in third grade, but these are special. I bake them for the church Christmas party every year... and folks always rave about them and ask for a copy of the recipe.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1-1/2 cups sugar
1-1/4 cups butter, softened
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 teaspoon shortening

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, sugar and butter until crumbly. Set aside 1-1/2 cups for topping. Press remaining crumb mixture into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake at 350° for 15-18 minutes or until edges begin to brown.
In a small bowl, combine pie filling and extract; carefully spread over crust. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Bake 20-25 minutes longer or until edges and topping are lightly browned.
In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Drizzle over warm bars. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Nutrition Facts

1 each: 156 calories, 7g fat (4g saturated fat), 17mg cholesterol, 68mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.

Originally published as Chocolate-Drizzled Cherry Bars in Country Woman Christmas 2003

Reviews

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crankyankee

Sep 21, 2013

a real keeper
catmomma

May 1, 2012

I have done this with blueberry pie filling and white chocolate drizzles, and am about to do Apple....
mko

Mar 1, 2012

I read through this recipe quickly and had an idea in my mind that the filling was chocolate mixed with cherries. When I came to make the bars, and read the recipe carefully, I was disappointed to find the chocolate was only drizzled on top. So I set about making them the way I had imagined them. I substituted Red Mill Extra Thick Rolled Oats for the quick oats by weight. I added 1/2 t. salt to the crust. I might increase that a little next time. In the filling I added 1 T. cherry concentrate, deleted the almond extract and added 6 oz. of bittersweet chocolate chips that I had pulverized in the food processor. I sprinkled chopped walnuts on top of the bars and I omitted the drizzle. They were excellent. I found it was best to store them in the refrigerator, but let them warm up to room temperature before eating them.
sassyboots

Dec 8, 2011

These are good, but I like the chocolate cherry bars better