Chocolate Covered Cherry Bars

1 cup flour
1/2 cup softened butter
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons softened butter
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
36 maraschino cherries
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon butter

Combine flour, 1/2 cup butter and sugar. Add cocoa. Mix well and press into 8-inch square pan. Bake 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool.

Combine in bowl, powered sugar, 2 tablespoons butter, milk and almond extract. Mix well. Spread over cooled crust. Arrange cherries in rows of 6 by 6.

Melt chips and butter in saucepan. Spoon melted chips over and between cherries to cover all of pan. Chill until hardened. Cut into squares between cherries. Keep chilled.