Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
Crumb Mixture Ingredients:
  2               Cups  all-purpose flour
  2               Cups  quick-cooking oats
  1 1/2           Cups  sugar
  1 1/4           Cups  butter -- softened
Filling Ingredients:
  1                Can  cherry pie filling -- (21-ounce)
  1           Teaspoon  almond extract
Glaze Ingredients:
     1/2           Cup  semi-sweet real chocolate chips
  1         Tablespoon  shortening

Preparation:

Heat oven to 350°. In large mixer bowl combine all crumb mixture ingredients. Beat at low speed until crumbly. Reserve 1 1/2 cups crumb mixture; press remaining crumb mixture on bottom of 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until edges are very lightly browned. Meanwhile, in same bowl stir together all filling ingredients. Spread filling over hot partially baked crust; sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Continue baking for 27 to 32 minutes or until lightly browned. In 1-quart saucepan melt chocolate chips and shortening over low heat, stirring often, until smooth (2 to 3 minutes). Drizzle over bars. Cool completely; cut into bars. TIP:Bars can be cut into shapes other than rectangles. Try cutting into diamonds or triangles for gift giving. The favorite combination of chocolate and cherry makes these bars delicious.

Nutritional Information:

5424 Calories (kcal); 256g Total Fat; (41% calories from fat); 57g Protein; 747g Carbohydrate; 621mg Cholesterol; 2401mg Sodium