Description
Cherry Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake Bars are my weekend baking adventure that never fails to make friends smile. Creamy cheesecake swirled into rich chocolate brownies create the perfect dessert your taste buds will absolutely adore.
Ingredients
Scale
Brownie Layer:
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
Cheesecake Layer:
- 8 oz cream cheese
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Cherry Layer:
- 1 ¼ cups frozen cherries
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
Optional Toppings:
- Chocolate chips
- Shaved dark chocolate
- Chopped almonds or walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper, creating overhanging sides for easy removal.
- Melt ½ cup butter and whisk with 1 cup sugar in a large bowl. Incorporate 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth.
- Blend ⅓ cup cocoa powder, ½ cup flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon baking powder into the butter mixture until just combined.
- Spread the brownie batter evenly across the prepared pan.
- Beat 8 oz softened cream cheese with ¼ cup sugar until creamy. Add 1 egg and ½ teaspoon vanilla, mixing thoroughly.
- Carefully pour the cheesecake mixture over the brownie layer and smooth gently.
- Combine 1 ¼ cups thawed chopped cherries, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a saucepan.
- Cook the cherry mixture over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in ¼ teaspoon almond extract if desired.
- Allow cherry mixture to cool slightly, then spoon over the cheesecake layer. Create swirls using a butter knife.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until the center sets and a toothpick shows minimal moist crumbs.
- Remove from oven and cool completely at room temperature.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to ensure clean, precise slicing.
- Lift bars from pan using parchment paper. Slice into squares and serve chilled.
Notes
- Use room-temperature ingredients to ensure smooth, well-blended layers that combine perfectly.
- Check your brownie base for doneness by looking for a few moist crumbs on the toothpick, which prevents dry, tough brownies.
- When swirling cherry mixture into cheesecake, use light, gentle strokes to create beautiful marbled patterns without overmixing.
- For gluten-free version, substitute regular flour with almond or gluten-free flour blend, maintaining the same measurement.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg