Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Crumble Mixture:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup cocoa
- ¾ cup brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1-½ cups cold butter
For the Cheesecake Filling:
- 2 8-ounce blocks cream cheese
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp. vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp. lemon juice
- 2 large eggs
- 1-⅓ cups fresh or frozen cherries, quartered
For the Chocolate Drizzle:
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- 2 tbsp. whipping cream
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 350°F.
- In a food processor, pulse together the flour, brown sugar, cocoa and butter until crumbly (or simply cut the butter through the flour,cocoa and sugar with a pastry knife or two butter knives held between your fingers).
- Save 1 cup of this crumble mixture to sprinkle over the top later.
- Press the rest of the crumble mixture into the bottom of a greased or parchment lined 9-inch x 13-inch rectangular baking pan.
- Place in the pre-heated oven for 25 minutes.
- Remove from oven (leave oven on at 350°F) and let cool for a few minutes while preparing the cheesecake filling.
- In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, white sugar, lemon juice and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Beat in the egg.
- Spread the cheesecake mixture evenly onto the pre-baked cookie base.
- Sprinkle the chopped cherries evenly over the cheesecake batter.
- Press together the the reserved cookie crumble in your fist, break off small pieces and sprinkle over the surface.
- Return to pre-heated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the cheesecake is set at the center.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the pan before cutting and serving.
- You can drizzle the squares with chocolate, if you like; melt together the chocolate chips and whipping cream in a double boiler; spoon into a piping bag (or Ziploc bag with the corner snipped off) and drizzle a thin stream over each cookie bar.
- Place in airtight containers and place in refrigerator until ready to serve.
Notes
This recipes freezes well; place in ziploock bag, or other airtight containers.
