• Cooking Time: 35 minutes plus cooling
• Servings: 3 dozen
• Preparation Time: 15 minutes plus chilling
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup baking cocoa
• 1 cup cold butter
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling
• 2 cups (12 oz.) semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup chopped almonds

1. In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and cocoa.
2. Cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly.
3. Add the egg and almond extract until blended.
4. Set aside 1 cup for the topping.
5. Press the remaining crumb mixture into a greased 13 x 9 inch baking pan.
6. Carefully top with the pie filling.
7. Combine the chips, almonds, and the reserved crumb mixture.
8. Sprinkle over the pie filling.
9. Bake at 350 F for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
10. Cool on a wire rack.
11. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting into bars.

Taste Of Home - Tina Dierking The taste is similiar to chocolate covered cherries