Merry Cherry Dessert Food

MERRY CHERRY SQUARES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300.
• Mix sugar, butter, almond extreact and egg in a large bowl until well blended.
• Stir in flour, 1/2 cup cherries, and salt.
• Spread in ungreased 15 1/2 x 10 jelly roll pan.
• Sprinkle on top the remaining cherries and the candies; press lightly.
• Bake until edges are very light brown, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Cool completely.
• Make glaze by mixing powdered sugar and water until smooth and of desired consistency.
• Drizzle squares with glaze.

MERRY CHERRY DESSERT

Steps:

• 1. Reserve 1/3 cup cherry pie filling for garnish; set aside.
• 2. Add boiling water to gelatin; mix in a large bowl. Stir at least 2 minutes, until completely dissolved. Stir in cold water and remaining cherry pie filling.
• 3. Refrigerate 45 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
• 4. Place cake cubes in 3qt. serving bowl. Cover with gelatin mixture. Refrigerate 45 minutes, or until gelatin layer is set, but not firm.
• 5. Beat pudding mixes and milk in large bowl with whisk for 2 minutes. Stir in 2 cups Cool Whip. Spoon over gelatin layer in bowl. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm. Top with remaining Cool Whip and the reserved cherry pie filling. Garnish with sliced almonds or fresh mint sprigs before serving.

MERRY CHERRY BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and almond extract. Combine the flour and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until well blended. Mix in 1/2 cup of the cherries. Press the dough into an ungreased 9x13 inch baking pan. Sprinkle with remaining cherries and crushed candies. Press in lightly.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are lightly browned. Cool completely in the pan before icing. To make the icing, mix together the confectioners' sugar and water until a drizzling consistency is reached.

DOUBLE CHERRY DESSERT

Steps:

• PREP WORK - Preheat oven to 350º. Spray the bottom and sides of a 9x13-inch baking pan or a bundt pan.
• In a medium size bowl, beat the cake mix, eggs, and butter until smooth. If using, add the chocolate chips and mix just until the chips are well incorporated throughout the batter. Pour the batter into prepared baking pan. Spread the pie filling on top of the cake batter (do not stir or attempt to mix together the cake batter and pie filling; they will blend naturally during the baking process). Sprinkle the top with the chopped nuts.
• Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes.
• In a small bowl, mix the sugar and water until well blended. With a spoon, drizzle the sugar mixture over the cooled cake.

MERRY CHERRY BARS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350º. In a food processor, process the sugar, flour, and butter until crumbly, like course sand. Press evenly into a 9"X13" pan. Bake for 12 minutes.
• 2. While crust is baking, prepare filling. Drain the juice from the cherries (reserving 1/4 cup for glaze) and coursely chop. Chop the pecans. Mix the eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the cherries, pecans, and coconut until well mixed and pour over baked crust. Bake an additional 20-25 minutes at 350º until the edges are turning golden brown.
• 3. While the bars are baking, prepare the glaze. Melt the butter and mix in a medium sized bowl with the cherry juice and the powdered sugar. Drizzle glaze evenly over bars while still warm.
• 4. Cut into bars approximately 1" X 2" . Makes about 48 bars.

MERRY CHERRY FUDGIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Mix 1/4 cup butter and cream cheese. Stir in flour, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa and the vanilla. Divide into 24 pieces. Press in bottom and side of 24 ungreased small muffin cups, 1 3/4x1 inch. Mix filling ingredients. Spoon 2 teaspoons into each.
• Bake 18 to 20 minutes. Cool 1 hour.
• Loosen cookies with tip of knife. Remove to cooling rack. Mix 1/2 cup powdered sugar and cherry juice. Drizzle over cookies; sprinkle with additional chopped cherries if desired.