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Chocolate Chip Cherry Bars close up image of stacked cookie bars on a white plate.

Chocolate Chip Cherry Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

These slightly chewy cookie bars have plenty of dried cherries and chocolate chips baked inside with decadent layer of cream cheese icing on top. They also freeze quite well for holiday baking.
Course Cookies
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 2 dozen squares or bars
Author Barry C. Parsons

Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup + 3 tbsp flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/8 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup dried cherries chopped

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 1/2 cup cream cheese
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups icing sugar

Instructions

  1. Cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
  2. Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat well.
  3. Sift together the flour, baking powder and baking soda.
  4. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, folding to combine well. Fold in the chocolate chips and chopped dried cherries.
  5. Spread in a parchment lined 9 inch square baking pan and bake for 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees F. (325 for glass bake ware) Remove from oven and cool thoroughly before frosting and cutting.

To prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting

  1. Simply beat all of the ingredients together on low speed until smooth. Add a few drops of milk if the frosting seems to thick to spread easily.