Cherry Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Icing

INGREDIENTS

I jar of marachino cherries minced finely (save 4 Tbsp. of the juice)

1 cup

butter (softened)

2 cups

sugar

eggs

1 tsp

vanilla

1 tsp

. Pure Almond Extract

or 5 cups flour (start with 4 cups and move up to 5 cups if needed- dough should feel like a cookie)

1 tsp

salt

1/2 tsp

baking soda

pink or red food coloring is optional

Icing:

8 oz

. Cream Cheese softened

1 stick

butter softened

2 cups

confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)

1 tsp

. Vanilla Extract

food coloring is optional