I love this time of year! Our home is a buzz with Christmas spirit, led by my Christmas lov’in husband. It is hard not to dive knee deep into planning for the season. Our December calender is almost full. Christmas house tours, candle light strolls, Christmas movie nights, cutting down the tree, and of course Christmas baking!
The anticipation of the Christmas season was always heightened once my mom started her Christmas baking. Her Cherry Chews have always ranked amongst my most favorite. The taste of cherries and coconut with a subtle almond flavor in a chewy pink iced square was always something to look forward to. Thankfully this recipe makes a big 9 x 13 pan and can be cut into lots of bite sized squares for sharing. Which is a good thing because they always go fast!
I am delighted to share this recipe with you today. I really cannot even tell you the source of this recipe, as they are a Christmas treat that my mom has been baking for as long as I can remember.
I like this recipe because it requires no electric mixers to prepare. As a matter of fact I primarily use just one big bowl to make them.
Begin by using a large bowl to mix the flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Rub (or cut) in 1/2 cup butter. Press this mixture into a greased 9 by 13 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
Using the same bowl, beat eggs with a whisk. Stir in brown sugar and almond extract. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt and stir into the egg mixture. Add the coconut and chopped cherries. Using an off set spatula, spread this mixture over crust. Sprinkle with chopped pecans. Return to oven and bake for 25 minutes (until lightly browned). Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl sift 1 cup of confectioners sugar. Add softened butter and 4 to 5 tablespoons of reserved cherry juice, and 1/8 teaspoon almond extract. Stir until desired consistency is reached, adding more cherry juice if required. This will give a very light coating of frosting for the squares. By all means it can be doubled for a thicker frosting.
There you have it. One my earliest memories of the Christmas spirit courtesy of my mom’s cherry chews!
If you are looking for more yummy cherry recipes, check out this recipe for Cherry Surprises – it was one of the very first recipes I ever posted, so it could use some updated photos but the recipe is tried and true! Or, maybe a simple cherry quick bread like this Old Fashioned Cherry Bread is something you will enjoy.
Until next time….
- For Crust:
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter
- For Filling:
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup coconut
- 1 cup well drained maraschino cherries, quartered (reserve juice)
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- For Frosting:
- 1 1 /2 tablespoons soft butter
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- 4 to 5 tablespoons cherry juice
- 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
- For Crust:
- Mix flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Press into greased 9 by 13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
- For Filling:
- In a large bowl beat eggs, stir in brown sugar and almond extract.
- Mix flour, baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt and stir into egg mixture.
- Add coconut and cherries, stir until combined.
- Spread mixture over prepared crust using an off set spatula.
- Sprinkle with chopped pecans.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, until lightly brown.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool while preparing frosting.
- For Frosting:
- Combine all ingredients and stir until smooth and well blending, adding addition cherry juice for desired consistency.
Your Cherry Chews caught my eye at the “What’d You Do This Weekend?” link party. They look wonderful!! I share your love for this beautiful season …and for cherry desserts too! 😉 Thanks for sharing! Pinned 🙂
Thanks Brenda! You can bet I will be visiting Chatting Over Chocolate! Love that.
These are three of my favorite flavors when combined. Your cherry chews look so delicious. I’m for sure making them this season.
Oh my goodness! Those Cherry Chews look scrumptious! I’ve bookmarked your post because I definitely want to try it. I came across your post on “Plucky’s Second Thought” Linky Party. I’m so glad I did. I’m following you via Bloglovin’. Please follow me back and have a happy Monday!
Vashti
http://wp.me/p3eYyj-p2
So glad you stopped by! Following you on Bloglovin’ as well!
These look and sound so good! Visiting from Marvelous Mondays. I will be adding these to my holiday baking list! Pinned.
Thanks for stopping by AnnMarie!
My mouth just drooled at the sight of these! YUM!
Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!
Thanks Jess! Always happy to link up.
Something about pink desserts makes me really light and happy inside. 🙂 I could even see serving these for Valentine’s Day or a spring tea party.
They look gorgeous, and sound delightful! Thanks for sharing the recipe and linking up to What’d You Do This Weekend. I’m totally pinning this!
Your newest follower!
Ashley
I loved these as a kid! My mom made these every Christmas and I can’t for the life of me find her old recipe. I was looking for it all last week. I suspect it came out of a magazine in the late seventies/early eighties which was around when she started making them. So glad I came across this on pinterest! yay – now I can make my own 🙂
I was so thankful my mom has made me a binder of all her old recipes! She adds to it whenever I remember one that I really like.
Does the crust need to cool before spreading on filling.
Thanks for stopping by Kathleen! I actually have done it both ways, but never right out of the oven. I usually do it when th they have cooled slightly, but also have done it when they are completely cooled. It is a bit easier when they are still a bit warm though!
Maureen, your recipe looks and sounds delicious. Yum! I’m off to pin it now!!
Merry Christmas!
These are just lovely to look at. I think I could easily adapt this recipe to meet my gluten free dietary needs.
I will let you know how it goes.
What a festive recipe, love the pink frosting! Great for any parties, Happy Holiday
Maria
officially festive! Love the cherry flavor! Thanks for sharing it at Celebrate365 Cookie Exchange!
Hi what kind of coconut is used… Sweetened or unsweetened? Thanks!
Hi Lori! I used sweetened coconut, but either is fine!
I served these at a party yesterday. I also made potato chip cookies and chocolate chip. These were everyone’s favorite, and I had to give out the recipe. Absolutely delicious!!!
I am 76 years old and bake about every day, so I’m not easily impressed. But….wow, my new favorite and will be making these as Christmas goodies for friends. ( I followed the recipe exactly as written). Thank you Maureen.
Oh my goodness Barb!! What a wonderful compliment! Thank you so much. You have made my day. I am so happy that you and your friends love them as much as our family does 🙂
Oh you are making me drool all over my keyboard! So sweet too with its soft pink color. Cherries always make me think of Christmastime.
🙂 gwingal
This recipe is to drool over! I am going to make this!
Hi Maureen, these cherry chews look really delicious! Thank you for the recipe. Pinned to my Yummy! board for you. <3
Thank you Barbara!
I made these last week,and they were awesome. I love anything cherry or almond flavored. These had such a great flavor to them. I only eat dessert once a week,I can’t wait until Saturday until I can have some more. This recipe is a keeper,thanks for sharing.
Maureen can these be frozen ? I start my baking for The holidays now so like to freeze some .
Absolutely they can Donna! I also make them ahead and freeze them…until my family finds them and eats them frozen and I have to make them again 😉
How do you store these cherry chews and how long will they keep?
Hi Maria! They will last up to 5 days in an air tight container, but I have made up to 2 months ahead and frozen them!
Hi! I saw this recipe on Pinterest and am pleasantly surprised it’s the same recipe I’ve been making for years, courtesy of my husband’s grandmother. All the ingredients are the same with the exception of the cherry glaze. I never thought of a glaze before when I’ve made these bars. I’ve saved your recipe and will be making it very, very soon! These bars always go very quickly in our house. I absolutely LOVE them!
This is so fun that you too have this recipe passed down to you! The glaze adds just a little something extra! They are definitely the family favourite around here too 🙂
I followed your recipe completely, but my icing didn’t turnout like the photo?
So Sorry Lisa! Mine always turns out just right. Was it too runny or too thick? Perhaps adjusting the ratio of cherry juice and confectioners would help!
Maureen, I would love to make these, however I dint have any coconut. Would they come out ok without it? Thank you in advance for your answer!
Hi Nancy! I have never made them without coconut, but it is a main component of the bars so I would be hesitant to do so. If you did want to try and omit them, I would suggest adding a bit more pecans and cherries, but I don’t know if they would stay together or have the same texture and flavour. I would love to know how you make out if you do try!
I think I will be adding this to my February baking calendar!
It will make a sweet and pink Valentine’s Day treat.
Do you think vanilla extract would work in replace of the almond? I have an almond allergy but these sound amazing!
Hi Antoinette! I think you would be fine substituting vanilla. The cherry is the prominent flavour, and I think a hint of vanilla would be lovely!
Have you ever made them with fresh cherries?
Rita, I have never made them with fresh cherries, but I am sure not opposed to trying! I would definitely choose a sweet cherry, and perhaps add some cherry extract since you would not have the cherry juice that is used in the recipe. Now you have me curious, but I will have to wait til cherry season!
I just baked this for 25 minutes. It’s lightly browning, but still seems not “set”, is it supposed to be set when you pull it out of the oven, or does it firm up while cooling? Thanks for you time and assistance.
Yes, it will seem not quite set! It should firm up a bit when cool, but still have a nice chewy texture!