My husbands family had this great recipe for Cherry Mash.  In northern Iowa it is similar to King Bings, and southern Iowa & northern Missouri they call it Cherry Mash, which is actually made in St. Joseph, Missouri.  Do you have a similar product in your neck of the woods?
The homemade version is spot on for the prepackaged candy, but better because YOU made it and you get so much more for your money!
If you aren't familiar with Cherry Mash or King Bings, just know that if you like Chocolate, Cherry & peanuts, you will LOVE this recipe!

Cherry Mash Candy

Cherry Mash Candy

2 cups Sugar

16 large Marshmallows

5 oz can Evaporated Milk

1 tsp Vanilla

10 oz Cherry Chips

12 oz Milk Chocolate Chips

3/4 cup Peanut Butter

10 oz Salted Peanuts, Chopped

Mix sugar, marshmallows & evaporated milk.  Cook over low to medium heat until melted.  Boil 3 minutes, stirring constantly.

 Cook over low to medium heat until melted.  Boil 3 minutes, stirring constantly.

 Remove from heat; add vanilla and cherry chips.  Stir until melted.

*I have learned to pour the chips slowly in with one hand while stirring with the other hand so the chips don't clump.  If they clump its ok, it just takes longer to melt them.

Spread in a buttered 9x13 pan.

In another pan, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter.

  Add chopped peanuts and stir in.

Spread this mixture over the cherry mixture.

Refrigerate to set.  Cut into squares after they are set.  

These also freeze great!  

My dad longs for these every year.  He asks about 100 times starting the month before Christmas up until we get together, if I have made them yet or just confirming that I am making his "Cherry Fudge" as he calls it.  

I do store these in the refrigerator when they aren't sitting out at our get togethers.  They just seem to hold up better over the time that they last.

ENJOY & MERRY CHRISTMAS!