Chocolate Drizzled Cherry Bars

Chocolate Drizzled Cherry Bars                                                  

Recipe by Judy Schneider

Crumb Mixture:

2 cups flour

2 cups uncooked quick-cooking oats

1½ cup sugar

1¼ cup butter, softened

Filling:

1 21-oz can cherry pie filling

1 tsp almond extract

Drizzle:

½ cup chocolate chips

1 T shortening

Preheat oven to 350°. Combine all crumb mixture ingredients in large bowl. Beat at low speed until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Reserve 1½ cup crumb mixture. Press remaining mixture into bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan.  Bake for 15-20 minutes or until edges are very lightly browned.

Meanwhile, combine all filling ingredients in same bowl.  Spread filling over hot, partially browned crust; sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Continue baking for 27-32 minutes or until lightly browned.

Melt chocolate chips and shortening in 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth (2-3 minutes). Drizzle over bars; cool completely and cut into rectangles, diamonds, or squares.