CHOCOLATE CHERRY FUDGE BARS

4oz baker’s unsweetened baking chocolate

¾ cup butter (1 ½ sticks)

1 ½ cups sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup flour

1 4 serving size instant chocolate pudding & pie filling

10 oz jar (¾ cup about 30 cherries) chopped maraschino cherries 7 TBL juice reserved

2 oz softened cream cheese

½ cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 13x9 pan with foil so ends are extending over sides of pan. Grease foil. Microwave chocolate and butter in a large bowl until butter is melted. Add sugar, mix well. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Add flour and dry pudding mix. Mix well. Stir in ½ cup (about 20) cherries and 1/3 cup of the reserved cherry juice. Spread into pan. Bake 30-35 minutes until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out with fudgy crumbs. (DO NOT OVERBAKE). Cool in pan. Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar and remaining juice until well blended. Drizzle over cooled desert and top with remaining ¼ cup (about 10) cherries. Use foil handles to remove from pan before cutting into bars. Store in fridge.