Chocolate-Drizzled Cherry Bars

(recipe and photo from Taste of Home)

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 1-1/4 cups butter, softened
• 1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 3/4 teaspoon shortening

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, sugar and butter until
• crumbly. Set aside 1-1/2 cups for topping. Press remaining crumb
• mixture into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake at
• 350° for 15-18 minutes or until edges begin to brown.
• In a small bowl, combine pie filling and extract; carefully spread
• over crust. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Bake 20-25 minutes
• longer or until edges and topping are lightly browned.
• In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until
• smooth. Drizzle over warm bars. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• Yield: 3 dozen.

 

(from Dana)