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Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake Bars

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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.