These festive cookie bars offer a brown sugar and nut shortbread crust with a chocolate cheesecake-like filling laced with chopped candied red cherries.

Chocolate-Cherry Squares

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1/4 cup milk
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup candied red cherries, chopped

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Combine flour, brown sugar and butter; blend together to form fine crumbs. Stir in nuts. Reserve 3/4 cup for the crumb topping. Press remainder into an ungreased 9-inch square baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
3. Cream together cream cheese and sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add cocoa, milk, egg and vanilla; beat until smooth. Fold in candied cherries.
4. Spread filling over warm crust and sprinkle reserved crumb mixture on top. Bake an additional 25 minutes or center is set. Cool completely before cutting into squares.

Makes 12 bars.