Charleston Cherry Bars

By á-7711

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 bottle (10 ounces) red maraschino cherries, drained and chopped
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan with butter or shortening.
In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In a medium-size bowl, cream butter and granulated sugar about 2 minutes. Add 1 of the eggs and 1 egg yolk, reserving white. Mix well. Add vanilla and almond extracts. Blend in flour mixture until smooth.
Scatter dough into prepared pan. Pat down evenly with buttered fingers or a rubber spatula. Set aside.
Beat reserved egg white to stiff but moist peaks in a medium-size bowl. Pat cherries dry with a paper towel. Stir in cherries and light-brown sugar until combined. Spread over prepared crust in pan. Sprinkle with chopped pecans.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Cool cookie completely in pan on rack before cutting into bars and serving.