CHERRY PIE BARS

3 cups white whole wheat flour (or your favorite low-carb substitute)
3/4 cup Splenda Granulated

1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups cold butter, cut into slices or cubed (do not substitute margarine)
3 cups Splenda-sweetened cherry pie filling
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup "fake" powdered sugar* or Swerve Powdered Sugar product
4 to 5 tsp low-fat milk
1/4 tsp almond extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line bottom and sides of a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil allowing it to extend over the sides by a couple of inches. Lightly grease the foil or spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

In a food processor, pulse the flour, Splenda and salt until combined. Add butter; pulse until crumbly. Reserve 1 cup of this mixture and press the remaining onto the bottom of the prepared pan. 

Bake at 350 degrees until lightly browned, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven.

Spread the cherry pie filling over the crust.

Add the pecans to the reserved flour mixture and toss to combine. Sprinkle evenly over the pie filling.

Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown, approximately 40 to 45 minutes. Remove from oven and cool in the pan for 1 hour. Using the foil sides, gently lift bars from the pan to a flat surface.

Stir together the fake powdered sugar, 4 teaspoons of the milk and the almond extract. Add additional milk if needed to reach a drizzle consistency. Drizzle over the top of the pecan mixture.

Cut into 48 bars for serving.
*To make sugar-free powdered sugar:
Put 3/4 cup of Splenda Granular and 2 tablespoons cornstarch in a blender and blend until it is a very fine powder. 0 grams of sugar and only 4 carbs per tablespoon.

Note: This is a dessert and should be treated as such. Only 1 bar per day. This is a good recipe to make when having company, to take to pitch-ins, etc. That way you can have some dessert with everyone else and not be tempted to over-indulge!

Note: File Photo