Dried Cherry Chocolate Strudel Bars Recipes

CHEWY CHOCOLATE-CHERRY BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, mix cracker crumbs and butter. Press into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. In a large bowl, mix the remaining ingredients until blended; carefully spread over crust., Bake 25-28 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

DRIED CHERRY-CHOCOLATE STRUDEL BARS

Steps:

• Using on/off turns, blend first 3 ingredients in processor until coarse meal forms. Add sour cream and process just until moist clumps form. Gather dough into ball; divide in half. Flatten each dough piece into thin rectangle. Wrap in plastic and chill until firm enough to roll, at least 30 minutes and up to 2 days.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out 1 dough piece on lightly floured surface to 14x12-inch rectangle. Leaving 1-inch plain border at 1 long side, spread with 3/4 cup cherry jam, then sprinkle with 1 cup almonds, 1/2 cup dried cherries and 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Starting opposite plain end, roll up dough jelly-roll style, enclosing filling. Push in ends to compress log to 12-inch length; seal ends. Transfer strudel, seam side down, to prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough and filling, spacing strudels evenly apart on baking sheet.
• Bake strudels until golden, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Slide spatula under hot strudels to loosen from sheet. Cool completely on sheet. Cut strudels crosswise into 3/4-inch-thick bars. (Store airtight at room temperature up to 3 days.)

DRIED CHERRY AND WALNUT STRUDEL BUNDLES

Steps:

• Place cherries in small bowl. Pour 3/4 cup boiling water over. Let stand until softened, about 30 minutes. Drain well. Pat cherries dry with paper towels. Mix cherries, nuts and jam in medium bowl.
• Lightly oil heavy medium baking sheet. Stack phyllo sheets on work surface. Trim to 10-inch square (save scraps for another use). Cover stack with plastic and damp kitchen towel. Place 1 phyllo square on work surface. Brush lightly with butter. Arrange another phyllo square atop, with corners at a slight angle. Brush lightly with butter. Repeat with 2 more squares, arranging corners at slight angle. Spoon 1/4 cup sherry mixture in center of phyllo stack. Lift edges of phyllo and bring together around filling, forming bundle. With string, tie bundle just above filling. Place on prepared sheet. Repeat with remaining phyllo and filling, forming total of 6 bundles. Brush outside of filled portion (but not tops) of each bundle with butter. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover carefully and chill.)
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Bake until phyllo is golden about 35 minutes. Transfer sheet to rack and cool. Carefully cut string from each bundle. Sift powdered sugar over bundles and serve.

CHERRY STREUSEL BARS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine 2 cups flour, sugar and salt; cut in shortening until crumbly.
• In another bowl, whisk the egg, water, and vinegar. Stir into flour mixture with a fork.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough into a 15 x 10 inch rectangle. Transfer to a greased 15 x 10 x 1 inch baking pan. Bake at 400° for 6-8 minutes or until firm and dry to the touch.
• Meanwhile, combine pie filling and orange peel; set aside. In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon and remaining flour; cut in butter until crumbly. Spread cherry mixture over crust. Sprinkle with crumb mixture. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes before cutting.