CHOCOLATE CHERRY SQUARES

This recipe is from an old Hershey's Grocery Store "Give-Away" Pamphlet.

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Filling (recipe below)
Red candied cherries, halved

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixer bowl, combine the flour, butter or margarine, and brown sugar. Blend on low speed to form fine crumbs, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the nuts. Reserve 3/4 of this crumb mixture for topping. Pat the remaining crumb mixture into an ungreased 9-inch square baking pan. Bake 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Meanwhile, prepare the Filling.

FILLING:

1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped red candied cherries

In a small mixer bowl, combine the cream cheese and sugar beating until fluffy. Add cocoa, milk, egg, and vanilla; beat until smooth. Fold in cherries. Spread mixture over the warm crust. Sprinkle with the reserved crumb mixture. Garnish with the cherry halves. Return to the oven and bake for 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool before cutting into squares. Store, covered, in the refrigerator.

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