Shelly's Recipe

CHOCOLATE-COVERED CHERRY PIE

Category: Pies - Fruit

1 (12 oz) pkg semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup butter, cut into pieces
1 (6 oz) ready-made chocolate crumb piecrust
1 (21 oz) can cherry pie filling
1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup confectioners sugar
1 large egg
1/4 tsp almond extract
16 maraschino cherries with stems
2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed

Microwave morsels and cream in a microwave-safe bowl at MEDIUM (50% power) 1 to 2 minutes or until chocolate begins to melt. Whisk in butter until smooth. Let cool, whisking occasionally, 5 to 10 minutes or until mixture reaches spreading consistency. Spoon half of chocolate mixture into piecrust. Cover and chill remaining chocolate mixture. Spoon cherry pie filling evenly over chocolate mixture in piecrust. Place piecrust on a baking sheet.

Beat cream cheese and next 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour cream cheese mixture evenly over cherry pie filling. (Pie shell will be very full but will not overflow when baking.) Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until center is set. Remove from oven, and cool on a wire rack. Cover and chill 8 hours.

Drain maraschino cherries on paper towels; pat dry.

Microwave reserved chocolate mixture at MEDIUM (50% power) 1 minute. Remove from microwave; stir until spreading consistency, reheating if necessary.

Dip cherries in chocolate mixture, and place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper; chill 15 minutes. Spread remaining chocolate mixture evenly over top of pie. Spoon 8 dollops of whipped topping around outer edge of pie; place 2 chocolate covered cherries in center of each dollop.