Choco-cherry Cheesecake Bars

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• 1 (18 ounce) roll refrigerated sugar cookie dough
• 1 egg, separated
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 drops red food coloring
• 1 (10 ounce) jar maraschino cherries, finely chopped, drained on paper towels
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine
• 1/2 cup whipping cream (heavy)

Recipe

• 1 heat oven to 350°f.
• 2 break up cookie dough into ungreased 15"x10" pan with sides.
• 3 with floured fingers, press dough evenly in bottom of pan to form crust.
• 4 bake 10-15 minutes or until light golden brown.
• 5 meanwhile, in small bowl, beat 1 egg until frothy.
• 6 remove partially baked crust from the oven.
• 7 brush egg over crust.
• 8 return to oven; bake 3 minutes longer or until egg is set.
• 9 meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth.
• 10 add egg yolk, 2 eggs, the condensed milk, almond extract and food color; beat until well blended.
• 11 stir in chopped cherries.
• 12 remove partially baked crust from oven.
• 13 pour cherry mixture evenly over crust.
• 14 return to oven; bake 16-20 minutes longer or until set.
• 15 cool completely, about 45 minutes.
• 16 meanwhile, in medium saucepan, heat chocolate chips and margarine over low heat, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth.
• 17 remove from heat.
• 18 cool 20 minutes.
• 19 stir whipping cream into chocolate mixture until well blended.
• 20 spread over cooled bars.
• 21 refrigerate for about 30 minutes or until chocolate is set.
• 22 for bars, cut into 8 rows by 6 rows.
• 23 store in refrigerator.