Christmas Cherry Chews - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup rolled oats
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold butter
TOPPING
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup coconut
1/2 cup green and red maraschino cherry, halved
1 cup pecan halves

Preparation

Set oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a 9\" x 13\" baking pan.
In a bowl, mix together the first 5 ingredients.
Cut in the cold butter with a pastry blender until crumbly.
Press mixture into the prepared baking pan.
Bake for 8-9 minutes (don't overbake); remove and cool.
Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees.
In a bowl, combine all topping ingredients; mix well.
Spread topping over the cooled base.
Sprinkle with pecan halves over top.
Return to oven; bake for 30 minutes longer.
Cool, cut into squares.