Chocolate-Covered Cherry Bars
Contributed by Diane S.
Source: Better Homes & Gardens Christmas Cookies

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

      Title: Chocolate-Covered Cherry Bars
 Categories: Desserts, Cookies, Christmas
      Yield: 48 Servings

      1    10 oz. jar maraschino
           -cherries without stems
  1 1/2 c  Sugar
    1/2 c  Butter or margarine melted
      2 oz Unsweetened chocolate,
           -melted and cooled
      1 ts Vanilla
      2    Eggs
  1 1/2 c  All-purpose flour
    1/2 ts Baking powder
    1/2 c  Milk
      1    6 oz. package ( 1 cup) semi
           -sweet chocolate pieces (do
           -not use imitation)
    1/2 c  Sweetened condensed milk

  Drain cherries, reserving 1/3 cup juice.  Place cherries in a food
  processor bowl; cover and process with on/off turns till coarsely
  chopped, or chop by hand.

  Combine sugar, butter or margarine, unsweetened chocolate, and
  vanilla in a medium mixing bowl.  Add eggs; beat for 1 minute at
  medium speed. Stir together flour, baking powder, and dash salt.  Add
  to chocolate mixture alternately with milk, mixing well after each
  addition.  Spread batter in a greased and floured 15x10x1 inch baking
  pan.  Sprinkle with chopped cherries.

  Combine chocolate pieces and sweetened condensed milk in a small heavy
  saucepan.  Stir over low heat till chocolate is melted.  Stir in
  reserved cherry juice.  Use a spoon to drizzle evenly over batter.
  Bake in a 350øF for 25 to 30 minutes or till a wooden toothpick comes
  out clean.  Cool on wire rack.  Spray a thin knife with nonstick
  spray coating; wipe off excess.  Use knife to cut chocolate mixture
  into squares.  Makes 48
  Source: Better Homes & Gardens Christmas Cookies.

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