Philly Cream Cheese Chocolate Covered Cherries Recipes

CHERRY-CHOCOLATE LAYERED DESSERT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Mix cookie crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of 13x9-inch pan. Bake 12 to 15 min. or until firm. Cool.
• Meanwhile, add boiling water to gelatin mixes in small bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Whisk cream cheese in large bowl until blended. Gradually whisk in gelatin. Refrigerate 30 min. or until chilled.
• Whisk 1 cup COOL WHIP into gelatin mixture; pour over crust. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm.
• Spread remaining COOL WHIP over dessert; top with chocolate curls and cherries. Garnish with sifted powdered sugar just before serving.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED CHERRY PIE

Steps:

• 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.
• Spoon half of the mixture over the ready-made pie crust.
• Cover and chill remaining chocolate mixture.
• Spoon the cherry pie filling evenly over the chocolate mixture in the pie crust; place the crust on a baking sheet.
• In a bowl beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar, egg and almond extract at medium speed using an electric mixer until smooth.
• 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!).
• Set oven to 350 degrees.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the center is set; remove from oven and cool to about room temperature.
• Refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours.
• 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.
• Place 16 maraschino cherries with the stems on paper towels; pat them dry.
• Microwave the reserved chocolate mixture at MEDIUM for about 1 minute or until spreading consistency, stir until smooth.
• Dip the cherries into the warmed chocolate mixture, then place on a baking sheet.
• Chill the cherries for about 20 minutes (or longer).
• 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.
• Place 2 chocolate-covered cherries on top of each dollop.
• Delicious!