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Welcome to Simple Fare, Fairly Simple. This is a place for me to post recipes of all kinds...along with other miscellaneous fodder from my so-called life here in the south. Who knows what you will find here. Could be anything from my husband...known as IT Guy...to my kids and beautiful grandbabies that are growing up way too fast right before my eyes. But...mostly this will be a place for food. I hope you'll see something you like and if you decide to try something from the list...leave me a comment and let me know!



Monday, June 2, 2014

Cherry Cheesecake Bars

A good friend of mine sent me an old cookbook the other day and this recipe caught my attention. I'm a cherry cheesecake lover from way back so I knew this would be good. I changed the recipe a little bit to suit us but it was really good. This makes a nice big pan full of cherry yumminess. I think the next time I make it though, I'll use TWO cans of cherry pie filling on top...just because I love cherries...but using just one can was good, too. A really fun and tasty dish!

Cherry Cheesecake Bars



1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup flaked coconut
2 8-oz. packages cream cheese ~ room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 21-oz. can cherry pie filling

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 inch pan with cooking spray.

Combine flour, brown sugar and shortening in a medium bowl and mix until crumbly.

Add the nuts and coconut and stir. Remove 1/2 cup of mixture to use later.

Press mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes.

In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, eggs, sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth.

Pour cream cheese mixture over partially baked crust then return to the oven for 15 more minutes. 

Carefully spoon pie filling over cheese layer.

Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture and return to oven for another 15 minutes.

Cool completely then cut into bars.

Here's the stuff you'll need.

Here's the stuff you'll need.


Combine flour, brown sugar and shortening in a medium bowl and mix until crumbly.
Combine flour, brown sugar and shortening 
in a medium bowl and mix until crumbly.


Add the nuts and coconut and stir.
Add the nuts and coconut and stir.


Remove 1/2 cup of mixture to use later.
Remove 1/2 cup of mixture to use later.


Press mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes.
Press mixture into the prepared 
pan and bake for 15 minutes.


Combine cream cheese, eggs, sugar and vanilla.
Combine cream cheese, eggs, sugar and vanilla.


Beat until smooth.
Beat until smooth.


Pour cream cheese mixture over partially baked crust then return to the oven for 15 more minutes.
Pour cream cheese mixture over partially 
baked crust then return to the oven for 15 more minutes.


Carefully spoon pie filling over cheese layer.
Carefully spoon pie filling over cheese layer.


Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture and return to oven for another 15 minutes.
Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture 
and return to oven for another 15 minutes.


See how pretty?
See how pretty?


Taste how yummy!
Taste how yummy!