Chocolate-Cherry Squares
Straight from the Human Resource Office is Brenda’s Chocolate-Cherry Squares. This one is sure to be on your nice list this holiday season.
Chocolate-Cherry Squares – Crumb Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup butter or margarine
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup chopped nuts
Heat oven to 350*. In a large mixer bowl combine flour, butter, and brown sugar. Blend on low speed to form fine crumbs, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in nuts. Reserve ¾ cup crumb mixture for topping; pat remain crumbs in an ungreased square pan, 9x2x2 inches. Bake 10 mins or until lightly browned. Meanwhile, prepare the Filling.
Cherry Squares – Filling Ingredients
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup sugar
- 1/3 cup cocoa
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 egg
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup chopped red candied cherries
- About 3 dozen halved cherries for topping the squares.
In a small mixer bowl combine cream cheese and sugar; beat until fluffy. Add cocoa, milk, egg, and vanilla; beat until smooth. Fold in cherries.
Spread over warm crust. Sprinkle with the reserved crumb mixture; garnish with cherry halves. Return to oven: bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool; cut into squares. Store, covered, in refrigerator. Yields about 3 dozen squares.
Festive Fact∴
Did you know that home-made candied cherries (aka Glacé Cherries) can last up to one year in the fridge!
So why not make your own with this simple recipe
