Choco-Cherry Bars

Ingredients

• 4 oz baker's chocolate unsweetened divided
• 0.5 tsp baking soda 
• 0.8 cup butter softened (1-)
• 8 oz philadelphia cream cheese softened
• 2  eggs 
• 1.3 cups flour 
• 1 cup granulated sugar 
• 1 cup maraschino cherries drained chopped well
• 2 Tbsp milk divided
• 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
• 0.5 tsp salt 
• 1.5 tsp vanilla divided
• 0.5 cup planters walnuts chopped

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• oven
• blender
• toothpicks

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350F. Melt 2 oz. chocolate; set aside. Beat cream cheese, butter and granulated sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended.
2. Add eggs and 1 tsp. vanilla; mix well.
3. Mix flour, baking soda and salt.
4. Add to cream cheese mixture; mix well. Blend in melted chocolate. Stir in cherries and nuts.
5. Spread into greased and floured 15x10x1-inch pan.
6. Bake 25 to 30 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Melt remaining chocolate in medium microwaveable bowl. Stir in powdered sugar, 2 Tbsp. milk and remaining vanilla.
7. Add remaining 1 Tbsp. milk, if necessary for desired glaze consistency.
8. Drizzle over dessert. Cool completely.