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.