Charleston Cherry Bars

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 (10 ounce) bottle red maraschino cherries, chopped
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan with butter or shortening.
2. In a bowl, combine first 3 ingredients. Set aside.
3. In a second bowl, cream butter and sugar for 2 minutes.
4. Add 1 egg and 1 egg yolk, reserving white. Mix well.
5. Add vanilla and almond extracts.
6. Blend in flour mixture until smooth.
7. Scatter dough into pan. Pat down evenly. Set aside.
8. Beat reserved egg white to stiff, but moist, peaks in a bowl.
9. Pat cherries dry with a paper towel. Stir in cherries and brown sugar until combined. Spread over crust in pan. Sprinkle with chopped pecans.
10. Bake for 30 minutes.
11. Cool in pan.
12. Cut into bars and serve.