Mrs. Fields & iVillage 30th Anniversary Cookie Contest (686 photos) Bar Cookies (22 photos)

Columbia Gorge Cherry Bars

This recipe is one of our communities favorite. I have done this for kids working at our local grade school and now I cook for an assisted living community where a few cherry orchardists reside. The Columbia Gorge is the cherry capitol of the world and we are very proud of our delicious cherries we grow here. This recipe is a serendipity and it can be changed with different fruits.

Melt: 1/2 cup butter
1 cup white chocoalate chips
in a 3qt. saucepan
Add: 1 cup granulated sugar
2 lg. eggs
1/2 ts. salt
1/2 ts. baking powder
2 cups flour
Stir till just blended. Pour in pan and top with 3/4 cup tart cherry filling, recipe follows.
Cherry filling: combine in a 2 qt. saucepan
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbl. cornstarch
Add: One 14.5 oz. red tart cherries undrained

Grease 8x8 baking pan. Cook till thickened, remove from heat and add 2 Tbl. cherry liquor, cool, use 3/4 cup for bars. After bars are cooked spoon more cherry filling over top before serving.