German Cherry Dessert Food

CHERRY KUCHEN BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 15x10 baking pan with a bit of butter. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the shortening and butter for 1 minute on medium speed.
• Add the sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat together until thoroughly combined and mixture is smooth.
• Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Add the flour one cup at a time, mixing with the electric beater until the dough gets thick. Then, switch to a wooden spoon and stir in any remaining flour.
• Reserve 1½ cups of the dough, and press the remaining dough into the prepared baking pan.
• Bake for 12 minutes, then remove from oven.
• Spread the cherry pie filling over the crust, then spoon small amounts of the reserved dough over the top.
• Bake for 25 to 28 minutes longer, or until lightly golden brown.
• Remove from oven and set on a wire rack to cool completely.
• While the bars cool, prepare the icing by combining the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk in a small bowl, adding the milk 1 tablespoon at a time until desired thickness is achieved.
• Once bars have completely cooled, drizzle with icing, cut, and serve.

GERMAN CHERRY DESSERT

Steps:

• Wash & drain cherries, then remove pits & set aside 8 whole cherries for garnish.
• Place remaining cherries in a bowl & add cherry brandy.
• In a small saucepan, boil 3 tablespoons of sugar in the water to make a thin sugar syrup, then add this syrup to the cherries & stir to blend, before covering the cherries & setting them aide to soak for 20 minutes.
• Cut the grapes in half, & put 6 halves in each of 4 glass dishes, before arranging the cherries on top of the grapes.
• Thoroughly blend together the cream cheese, 3 tablsepoons of sugar, vanilla extract & ground almonds.
• Whip the cream & carefully add it to the cream cheese mixture, then spoon it over the cherries.
• Decorate each bowl with the chopped almonds & 2 whole cherries each.