Chocolate-covered Cherry Pie

Total Time: 8 hrs Preparation Time: 8 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 (6 ounce) ready-made chocolate crumb crusts
• 1 (12 ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup whipping cream (unwhipped)
• 1/4 cup butter (cut into small pieces)
• 1 (21 ounce) can cherry pie filling
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 16 maraschino cherries (with stems attached) (optional)
• 2 cups whipped cream (or use cool whip topping, thawed)

Recipe

• 1 microwave the semi-sweet baking chips with 1/2 cup whipping cream until the chocolate begins to melt (about 1 minute) remove and whisk in 1/4 cup butter until smooth; let cool, whisking occasionally for about 10 minutes, or until the mixture reaches a spreading consistency.
• 2 spoon half of the mixture over the ready-made pie crust.
• 3 cover and chill remaining chocolate mixture.
• 4 spoon the cherry pie filling evenly over the chocolate mixture in the pie crust; place the crust on a baking sheet.
• 5 in a bowl beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar, egg and almond extract at medium speed using an electric mixer until smooth.
• 6 pour the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cherry filling (the pie will be very full but shouldn't overflow when baked, but place the pie on a baking sheet anyway!).
• 7 set oven to 350 degrees.
• 8 bake for 25-30 minutes or until the center is set; remove from oven and cool to about room temperature.
• 9 refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours.
• 10 this next step with the cherries is optional, you can just drizzle the top of the cooled pie with melted chocolate and then dollop with whipped cream.
• 11 place 16 maraschino cherries with the stems on paper towels; pat them dry.
• 12 microwave the reserved chocolate mixture at medium for about 1 minute or until spreading consistency, stir until smooth.
• 13 dip the cherries into the warmed chocolate mixture, then place on a baking sheet.
• 14 chill the cherries for about 20 minutes (or longer).
• 15 spread any remaining chocolate over the pie, then spoon 8 dollops of whipped cream (or cool whip topping) around the outer edges of the pie.
• 16 place 2 chocolate-covered cherries on top of each dollop.
• 17 delicious!