Royal Cherry Bars

Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2 -Line a 13x9-inch baking pan with foil, letting the ends extend up the sides. Grease the foil.

Step 3 -In a bowl, combine the flour and the brown sugar.

Step 4 -Cut the shortening into the flour mixture until fine crumbs form.

Step 5 -Stir 1/2 cup of the walnuts and the coconut into the crumb mixture.

Step 6 -Reserve 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture for the topping, then press the remaining crumb mixture into the prepared baking pan.

Step 7 -Bake the crust until it lightly browns, about 12-15 minutes.

Step 8 -While the crust is baking, in a large bowl, add the cream cheese, the sugar, the eggs, and the vanilla and use an electric hand mixer to beat until it is smooth.

Step 9 -Spread the cream cheese mixture over the hot crust.

Step 10 -Bake for 15 minutes.

Step 11 -Spread the cherry pie filling over the top of the cream cheese mixture.

Step 12 -In a small bowl, combine the remaining walnuts and the reserved crumb mixture and sprinkle it over the cherry pie filling.

Step 13 -Bake the cherry bars for 15 minutes.

Step 14 -Let the cherry bars cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 15 -Refrigerate the cherry bars until they are completely chilled.

Step 16 -Use the foil to lift the cherry bars from the pan, then cut into bars.

Step 17 -Serve, refrigerating the leftovers.