Merry Cherry Dessert Recipes

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 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 SWIRL BROWNIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches. In 1-quart saucepan, melt chocolate and butter over low heat, stirring frequently, until smooth; remove from heat. Cool 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, beat all Cherry Cream Cheese Filling ingredients with spoon until smooth, set aside.
• In large bowl, beat chocolate mixture, 2 cups sugar, the vanilla and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed 1 minute, scraping bowl occasionally. Beat in flour and salt on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl occasionally. Beat on medium speed 1 minute. Stir in nuts.
• Spread half of the batter (about 2 1/2 cups) in pan. Spread filling over batter. Carefully spread remaining batter over filling. Gently swirl through batters with knife for marbled design.
• Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour. For brownies, cut into 8 rows by 6 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

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.

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.

MERRY CHERRY DESSERT

Steps:

• Reserves 1/3 cup cherry pie filling for garnish, set aside.
• Stir boiling water into dry gelatin mix in large bowl at least 2 minutes until completely dissolved.
• Stir in cold water and remaining cherry pie filling.
• Refrigerate 45 minutes or until slightly thickened.
• Place cake cubes in 3-quart serving bowl.
• Spoon gelatin mixture over cake. Refrigerate 45 minutes until set but not firm (should stick to finger when touched).
• Pour milk into large bowl.
• Add dry pudding mixes. Beat with wire whisk 2 minutes.
• Gently stir in 2 cups of the Cool Whip.
• Spoon over the gelatin mixture. Refrigerate 2 hours or until set.
• Top with remaining cool whip and reserved cherry pie filling.

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.

TART CHERRY MERINGUE DESSERT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a small bowl, mix flour and salt; cut in shortening until crumbly. Add egg, stirring with a fork. Press mixture onto bottom and up sides of a greased 11x7-in. baking dish. Bake until lightly browned, 20-22 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven setting to 350°., In a small bowl, beat egg whites with vanilla and cream of tartar on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating until stiff glossy peaks form. Fold in almonds., Drain cherries, reserving juice. Add enough water to juice to measure 1 cup; pour into a saucepan. Stir in tapioca, egg yolks and remaining sugar; let stand 5 minutes. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in cherries, lemon juice and, if desired, food coloring., Pour into crust. Immediately spread meringue over top, sealing edges to crust. Bake until meringue is golden brown, 22-25 minutes., Cool 1 hour on a wire rack. Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving.