Another recipe - Cherry Bars

I may have blogged this a year ago but not sure. I made these the other day and brought them into work. Seemed to be a hit.


Cherry Bars

Ingredients:

3/4	cup butter or margarine
2	cups firmly packed brown sugar
2	cups all-purpose flour
2	cups old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats, uncooked
2	teaspoons baking soda
1	(21-ounce) can cherry pie filling, I prefer the cherries in water not the heavy syrup stuff, make sure to drain it.
2	tablespoons granulated sugar
1	tablespoon cornstarch
1/2	teaspoon almond extract

Directions:

Beat butter and brown sugar in medium bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Combine flour, oats and baking soda. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture; mix on low speed until crumbly.

Spread two-thirds of oat mixture into bottom of ungreased 13×9×2-inch baking pan. Press down to form crust.

Process cherry filling in food processor or blender until smooth. Pour into medium saucepan. Combine granulated sugar and cornstarch; stir into cherry filling. Cook, stirring constantly, over low heat until mixture is thick and bubbly. Stir in almond extract. Pour cherry mixture over oat layer; spread evenly. Top with remaining oat mixture.

Bake in preheated 325°F oven 45 minutes or until golden brown. Cool before cutting.