Description
Chocolate Chip Maraschino Cherry Shortbread Bars are a delightful combination of buttery shortbread, dark chocolate chips, and sweet maraschino cherries, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) margarine, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup SPLENDA® Naturals Sugar & Stevia Sweetener Blend
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 11.5 ounces dark chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup chopped maraschino cherries, juices drained
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- Prepare a 9 x 13 casserole dish with parchment paper if desired; if not using any paper, no need to grease the pan.
- In a large bowl, cream margarine and SPLENDA® Naturals Sugar & Stevia Sweetener Blend for 2 minutes.
- Beat in vanilla and almond extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and salt.
- With the blender on low, gradually add the flour mixture. Wipe down the sides of the bowl with a spatula and beat until mixed.
- Slowly beat or stir in chocolate chips.
- Chop cherries and gently squeeze some of the juice out.
- Carefully beat in cherries.
- Use a spatula to evenly spread the mixture into the baking dish.
- Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until the top edges are golden brown.
- Allow the dish to cool, then chill in the refrigerator for about an hour to set and make it easier to cut.
- Remove parchment paper from the dish and cut into 48 squares.
- Allow shortbread bars to come to room temperature before eating. They have an unpleasant taste if served cold.
Notes
- Using margarine at room temperature ensures proper creaming.
- Make sure to drain the cherries well to avoid excess moisture.
- Chilling the bars after baking helps in cutting them neatly.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 40mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg