Crowd-Pleaser Cherry Squares

This is my favourite bar-type cookie from Company's Coming! After you've tried it, you'll understand why.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Yields: 36 squares

Ingredients

• FIRST LAYER

• 1 1⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄3 cup  packed brown sugar
• 1⁄2 cup butter or 1⁄2 cup margarine

• MIDDLE LAYER

• 2  eggs
• 1 1⁄4 cups  packed brown sugar
• 1  tablespoon flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1  pinch salt
• 1  cup  medium grind coconut
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped walnuts
• 1⁄2 cup  candied cherries or 1⁄2 cup maraschino cherry (at least)

• TOP LAYER

• 1  cup icing sugar
• 2  tablespoons butter or 2  tablespoons margarine
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1  tablespoon water

Directions

1. FIRST LAYER: Crumble ingredients together well.
2. Press into ungreased 9 x 9 inch pan.
3. Bake in preheated 350F oven for 15 minutes.
4. SECOND LAYER: Beat eggs slightly; add remaining ingredients in the order listed.
5. If using maraschino cherries, drain well.
6. I prefer using candied cherries- at Christmas, I use a mixture of red& green.
7. Spread over first layer& return to oven for 25 minutes.
8. Let cool completely.
9. TOP LAYER: Beat ingredients in a small bowl, adding more water if necessary to make a more spreadable mixture.
10. This makes a minimum amount of icing to spread over top.