Cheery Cheesecake Cookie Bars

4 (1 Oz. each) Hershey's Unsweetened Baking Chocolate, broken into pieces
1 Cup (2 Sticks) Butter
2 1/2 Cups Sugar, divided
4 Eggs
1 teas. Watkins Vanilla Extract
2 Cups Flour
1 (8 Oz.) Pkg. Cream Cheese, softened
1 3/4 Cup. (10 Oz. Pkg.) Hershey's Mini-Kisses (milk chocolate or semi-sweet) baking pieces, divided
1/2 Cup Chopped Red or Green Maraschino Cherries (optional)
1/2 teas. Watkins Almond Extract
Few Drops Red Food Coloring (optional)
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 13 x 9 baking pan. Place baking chocolate and butter in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on High 2-2 1/2 minutes, stirring after each minute until mixture is melted. Beat in 2 cups sugar, 3 eggs and vanilla until blended. Stir in flour; spread batter in prepared pan. Beat cream cheese, remaining 1/2 cup sugar and remaining 1 egg, stir in 1 1/4 cups mini kisses, cherries and almond extract. Add food coloring, if desired. Drop by spoonsful over top of chocolate mixture in pan. Bake 35-40 minutes or just until set. Remove from oven, immediately sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup mini-kisses over top. Cool completely in pan on wire rack, cut into bars. Cover, refrigerate leftover bars. Makes 3 dozen bars.
Debbie Nelsen WI