Todd and Leigh Daughenbaugh make these treasured Christmas treats in the comfort of their own kitchen. Leigh’s mother had the cherry-topped bars waiting for her any time she returned home, and she has since passed the recipe on to her daughter-in-law.

Mom’s Cherry Squares
Courtesy of Fresh Start Cafe & Bakery in Delaware

Makes 12 cherry squares

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups sugar
8 ounces margarine, softened
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon iodized salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 can cherry pie filling
Powdered sugar for dusting over the top

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 F. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine all ingredients except for the cherry pie filling and powdered sugar. Grease and flour a 10-by-15-inch rimmed sheet pan. Pour the batter into the pan. With a knife, score the batter into 12 squares. Place a spoonful of 3 cherries from filling in the center of each square. Bake for 35 minutes. Let cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.