Description
Delightful dessert bars combining chocolate and cherries in a creamy cheesecake layer.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups flour
- 2/3 cup cocoa powder
- 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups cold butter
- 2 cups (1 pound) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 tbsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/3 cups fresh or frozen cherries, quartered
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)
- 2 tbsp whipping cream (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a food processor, pulse together flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, and cold butter until crumbly. Reserve 1 cup of crumble mixture for topping.
- Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of a greased or parchment-lined 9×13 inch baking pan. Bake for 25 minutes.
- Let it cool while preparing the cheesecake filling.
- In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, white sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth. Add eggs and beat until incorporated.
- Spread the cheesecake mixture over the crust. Sprinkle chopped cherries on top.
- Press reserved crumble together, break into small pieces, and sprinkle over the top.
- Lower oven to 325°F (160°C) and bake for an additional 35 to 40 minutes, until set in the center.
- Let cool completely in the pan before cutting.
- Melt chocolate chips and whipping cream in a double boiler, drizzle over cooled bars, and refrigerate.
Notes
For extra flavor, consider adding more chocolate chips to the topping. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for a week or freeze for three months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 65 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: cheesecake, chocolate, cherry, dessert, bars, easy dessert