Ingredients:
1 cup walnut pieces, divided
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter flavor shortening
1/2 cup flaked coconut
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 (21 ounce) cans cherry pie filling
Directions:
Heat oven to 350 F.
Grease 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan with butter flavor shortening.
Set aside.
Chop 1/2 cup nuts coarsely for toping.
Set aside.
Chop remaining 1/2 cup finely.
For crust, combine flour and brown sugar.
Cut in butter flavored shortening until fine crumbs form.
Add 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts and coconut.
Mix well.
Remove 1/2 cup of mixture and set aside.
Press remaining crumbs in bottorm of pan.
Bake at 350 F for 12 to 15 minutes, until edges are lightly browned.
For filling, beat cream cheese, granuated sugar, eggs and vanilla in a small bowl at medium speed until smooth.
Spread over hot baked crust.
Return to oven.
Bake 15 minutes longer.
Spread cherry pie filling over cheese layer.
Combine reserved coarsely chopped nuts and reserved crumbs.
Sprinkle evenly over cherries.
Return to oven.
Bake 15 minutes longer.
Cool and refrigerate several hours.
Cut into bars about 2 x 1 1/2 inches.
Servings: Serve
Time preparation: 20 min.
Time total: 65 min.