Cherry Chews

Base:
1 cup flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter

Filling:
2 eggs
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup coconut
1 cup maraschino cherries, drained and quartered
1/2 cup pecan halves

Icing:
3 tbsp butter
2 cups icing sugar
1/4 tsp almond extract
2 tbsp liquid from the maraschino cherries

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Base: Mix together the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Add the butter and mix until crumbly, first with a fork, then with your fingers. Press into a greased 8-inch square baking pan and bake for 10 minutes at 350 F.

Filling: Beat the eggs, then stir in the brown sugar and almond extract. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt, and stir into the egg mixture. Add the coconut ans cherries, and stir to blend. Pour over the base ans spread evenly. Sprinkle with the pecans and bake at 350 F for 45 minutes.

Icing: Blend the butter and icing sugar. Add the almond extract and enough liquid from the cherries to make the icing spreadable. Ice the squares when they have cooled. Makes 12 to 16 squares.

*I baked the squares for only 35 minutes. They would have been fine even after 30 minutes.

Source: Great Canadian Cookies, Bars & Squares