Easy Valentine’s Chocolate Cherry Bars

This recipe is one of my dad’s favorites. Well, it’s actually a version of his favorite recipe that I just tweaked a little for Valentine’s Day. I’ve never actually made it for my dad for Valentine’s Day. I thought that might be up to my mother to do that. However, I have made it for my hubby for Valentine’s Day and he loves it, too.

These bars are very easy to make and really delicious. The cherries aren’t overpowering. If you eat it when it’s still hot, the chocolate chips make the bars moist and mouth-wateringly melty inside. If you wait and eat the bars after they have cooled completely, then the chocolate chips add a nice little crunch to the bars. Either way, they are amazing and sure to please your Valentine.

Easy Valentine’s Chocolate Cherry Bars

1 box chocolate cake mix

1 large can of cherry pie filling

1/2 cup chocolate chips

2 eggs

1 tub of cream cheese or vanilla frosting

Red food coloring

Crack the eggs into a large bowl and then beat. Add the pie filling, chocolate chips and cake mix to the bowl. Gently stir just until combined. Scoop the batter into a greased 9x13 inch pan and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Let the bars cool for 15 minutes. While they are cooling, beat the red food coloring into the frosting to the desired shade of pink or red. Then spread the frosting over the pan of bars. Cut into bars and serve.

Joy Larson is a mother of four boys, graduate of the University of Montana, animal lover and writer.