Cherry Streusel Bars
1 1/2 cups boiling water
3/4 cup dried tart cherries
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup hershey's cocoa
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup butter
1 12 ounce jar cherry preserves
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated orange peel
1/2 cup hershey's premier white chips
Heat oven to 350�F. Pour boiling water over dried cherries in small
bowl; let stand 10 minutes to soften. Drain cherries. For crust,
combine oats, brown sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder and baking
soda in large bowl. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until
mixture is in coarse crumbs. Set aside 3/4 cup of the oat mixture.
Press remaining oat mixture into bottom of an ungreased 13x9x2-inch
baking pan. Bake crust for 12 minutes.
For filling, cut up any large pieces of fruit in cherry preserves.
Stir together preserves, drained cherries and orange peel. Dollop
filling onto baked crust; spread to cover evenly. Sprinkle with the
3/4 cup reserved oat mixture. Bake 25 minutes. Cool completely in
pan on wire rack.
Place white chips in a small microwave-save bowl.
Microwave at HIGH (100%) 30 seconds; stir. If necessary, microwave
at HIGH an additional 20 seconds or until chips are melted and
mixture is smooth when stirred. Drizzle melted chips over baked
bars.
Makes 36 bars. |