This is my first month as a member of the Secret Recipe Club and my assignment was to recreate any post from the blog, Meet the Swans. (Every month it will change)
Upon first glance I thought it would be quite tricky as Krista, the blogger, is quite the baker and I, well not so much. Yes, there is something very romantic about being a great baker. One who always shows up to the new neighbors house with a bundt cake, or to a social gathering with some sweet confection. But to me baking is such a science and I have always been intimidated since I have known to be a bit on the non-detail oriented side of life.
I was deciding between the Lemon Rosemary Cupcakes and the Coconut Cherry Bars.
While the Lemon Rosemary cupcakes do sound tempting, it is June. And besides my birthday month, June is the month for cherries! Plump, Red, Juicy Cherries. I also thought I should add some sort of health factor to these and fresh fruit does just that.
Cherries are high in antioxidants, which help reduce the risk of cancer, inflammatory problems, and heart disease. They are also an excellent source of vitamin c and vitamin k. As if that wasn’t enough, cherries can also reduce the pain of arthritis, gout and headaches. LOVE IT!!
I made a few changes to the recipe to fit The Chefanies style a bit more. While her recipe calls for Maraschino cherries, I used fresh cherries. I added almonds as well as almond extract instead of the vanilla. I also omitted the cherry glaze because I thought they were sweet enough.
Needless to say they were amazing. Jason and I ate them up!
Now I can’t wait to see who got our blog and what they made. I hope they liked it as much as I liked these coconut cherry bars.
CHERRY COCONUT BARS
Makes about 15 bars
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup Flour
- 1/2 cup Butter
- 3 tablespoons Powdered Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 cup unsweetend Coconut Flakes
- 1 cup Cherries, chopped
- 1/4 cup Flour
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 cup chopped Almonds
- 1 teaspoon Almond Extract
DIRECTIONS
1.Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease 8- or 9-inch square pan.
2.In medium bowl, mix 1 cup flour, the butter and powdered sugar with spoon until flour is moistened. Press mixture in pan. Bake 10 minutes.
3.In medium bowl, beat eggs. Stir in remaining ingredients. Spread over baked layer.
4. Bake for another 25-30 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting them.
Check out the rest of the Secret Recipe Bloggers here:
These look ah-mazing! I joined the SRC this month and I am so glad I did. Everyone is posting such delicious recipes.
Thanks Carolyn, Not going to lie..They are pretty addictive.
The cherries have just come in at my local supermarket. Thanks for this great recipe using seasonal produce
No problem. I’d love to hear how yours turn out.
Have a great day.
Great job with these bars, they look fabulous! I love coconut, and I bet these taste incredible with the cherries.
Thanks!! The sweetness of the cherries combined with coconut is fab!
Oh yum yum yum!!!! I may have to make these today
I used to deny that I was more a baker than a chef… but I’m realizing… yeah. that’s me. I don’t really like going anywhere empty handed 
You are too sweet!! Can’t wait to catch up! Missing my Krista time!
I think I need to get some cherries from FM and make this immediately!
Kirstyn – When I was making these I was thinking about your mom’s apricot bars. I should try those next. But yes, you should definitely get on these! They are really good.
Mmm, these look so right for summer.
Thanks Lisa. They really are! Hope you make them while the cherries are plump and delicious!
These look so good. They sort of remind me of Cherry Larabars…but better!
That’s right!! They do! But better because they are a little bit more sinful.
These look delicious! I can’t wait to try them. This was my first time in the secret club and I’ve had so much fun visiting all the bloggers.
It is so much fun to see what you did with the bars! I love that you “healthified” them, using fresh cherries and less sugar!
Thanks Krista! Your blog is great. You should try these with the fresh cherries, I think you will like them.
What a great combination – and it doesn’t look too difficult, either (good for me – I don’t bake much).
Thanks Dan! They are really good and very very very easy! I hope you end up making them!
This is my first month in The Secret Recipe Club and it’s so much fun! I’m just loving all the new blogs and recipes I’m seeing. I have made this recipe with raspberries but now I need to try it with cherries as it looks wonderful.
Hi Lisa. I totally agree!! Good times. Your chicken curry looks awesome!
Fresh cherries and coconut in a bar? Sounds like a winning combination to me. It looks so delicious too!
Thanks Maya!! Those mango curd cakes look amazing.
Pingback: Cherry Fest « Krista Does SF!
The coconut and cherry combo looks so sinful…
Ruchi
Oh my gosh, I can’t wait to make these! Love that you used fresh cherries!
Great recipe! i Have so much sweetened coconut to get rid of- could i use this and reduce the sugar to 1/2 cup- or less?
thanks!!
Pingback: Banana Gelato – Secret Recipe Club | The Chefanies
Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe so that I could share it at a family reunion. It was a hit and the recipe was requested : ). I follwed it exactly using a very generous 1 cup of chopped Rainier cherries. Yummy!
Thanks Jennifer! I am glad you and your family enjoyed it!