Chocolate Cherry Squares

1 cup all purpose flour

1/3 cup butter

½ cup packed light brown sugar

½ cup chopped nuts

Red candied cherries, halved

Filling:

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

½ cup powdered sugar

1/3 cup cocoa

¼ cup milk

1 egg

¼ tsp vanilla

¼ cup chopped red candied cherries

In small bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar; beat until fluffy. Add cocoa, milk, egg, and vanilla; beat until smooth. Fold in cherries. Heat oven to 350°. In large mixing bowl combine flour, butter, and brown sugar. Blend on low speed to form fine crumbs, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in nuts. Reserve ¾ cup crumb mixture for topping; pat remaining crumbs into ungreased square pan 9 x 9”. Bake 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Meanwhile, prepare filling; spread over warm crust. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture; garnish with cherry halves. Return to oven; bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool; cut into squares. Store, covered, in refrigerator.

Makes about 3 dozen squares.