CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRY CHEESECAKE

Chocolate Covered Cherry Cheesecake image

Provided by Kari Kelley

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 11

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

Steps:

1. Microwave morsels and cream in a glass bowl 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 pie crust. Cover and chill remaining chocolate mixture.
2. Spoon cherry pie filling evenly over chocolate mixture in pie crust. Place pie crust on a baking sheet and set aside
3. Beat cream cheese and next 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour cream cheese mixture over cherry pie filling. (Pie shell will be very full but will not overflow when baking.)
4. 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.
5. Drain stemmed cherries on paper towels; pat dry.
6. Microwave reserved chocolate mixture at MEDIUM (50% power) 1 minute. Remove from microwave; stir until spreading consistency, reheating if necessary.
7. Dip stemmed 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.