Choco-Cherry Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients

• 1 roll Pillsbury™ refrigerated sugar cookies 
• 1 egg, separated
• 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 drops red food color
• 1 jar (10 oz) maraschino cherries, finely chopped, drained on paper towels
• 1bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)
•  1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup whipping cream

Instructions

1 _ Heat oven to 350°F. In ungreased 13x9-inch pan, break up cookie dough. With floured fingers, press dough evenly in bottom of pan to form crust. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown.

2 _ Meanwhile, in small bowl, beat 1 egg white until frothy. Brush egg white over crust. Bake about 3 minutes longer or until egg white is set.

3 _ Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add egg yolk, 2 eggs, the condensed milk, almond extract and food color; beat until well blended. Stir in chopped cherries.

4 _ Pour cherry mixture evenly over crust. Bake 16 to 20 minutes longer or until set. Cool completely, about 45 minutes.

5 _ Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat chocolate chips and butter over low heat, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Cool 20 minutes.


6 _ Stir whipping cream into chocolate mixture until well blended. Spread over cooled bars. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until chocolate is set. For bars, cut into 8 rows by 6 rows. Cover and refrigerate.