Recipe: Cherry Coconut Pecan Bars

These easy two-layer dessert bars combine jarred maraschino cherries, pecans and coconut atop a shortbread crust. (Stacey Little / Southern Bite)
This recipe with a delicious shortbread crust could easily become a new family favorite. You make the filling while the crust bakes.
Click here for the original recipe.
Cherry Coconut Pecan Bars
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Serves: 12 bars
Ingredients
For the shortbread crust:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 6 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 cup cold unsalted butter
For the filling:
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs, beaten
- 4 tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
- 1½ cups chopped pecans
- 1 cup chopped maraschino cherries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Use a mixer to combine the butter, flour and powdered sugar.
- Drop the dough by dollops into a metal 9-by-13-inch baking pan.
- Press evenly – using hands sprayed with cooking spray if the dough is sticky.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until just golden brown around the edges.
- While the crust is baking, mix the sugar, eggs, cornstarch, salt, vanilla, coconut, pecans and cherries together in a large bowl,.
- Pour the filling mixture over the hot shortbread crust.
- Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees and bake for 30 minutes or until light golden brown.
- Cool completely before slicing into squares.
This recipe originally appeared on SouthernBite.com. For more great recipes, visit the website or check out “The Southern Bite Cookbook.”