09/25/2024
Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake Bars
These luscious bars combine sweet cherries, creamy cheesecake, and indulgent chocolate for a delightful treat!
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Crumble Mixture:
3 cups flour
⅔ cup cocoa powder
¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
1½ cups cold butter
For the Cheesecake Filling:
2 cups (1 pound) cream cheese, softened
1 cup white sugar
2 tbsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 large eggs
1⅓ cups fresh or frozen cherries, quartered
For the Chocolate Drizzle (Optional):
½ cup chocolate chips
2 tbsp whipping cream
Instructions
1. Prepare the Crumble:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a food processor, pulse together the flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, and cold butter until crumbly. Alternatively, use a pastry knife to cut the butter into the dry ingredients.
Reserve 1 cup of the crumble mixture for topping later.
Press the remaining crumble mixture into the bottom of a greased or parchment-lined 9x13 inch baking pan.
Bake for 25 minutes. Let it cool for a few minutes while preparing the cheesecake filling.
2. Make the Cheesecake Filling:
In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese, white sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until smooth.
Add the eggs, beating until fully incorporated.
Spread the cheesecake mixture evenly over the pre-baked crust.
Sprinkle the chopped cherries evenly over the cheesecake layer.
Use your hands to press together the reserved crumble mixture, then break it into small pieces and sprinkle over the top.
3. Bake:
Lower the oven temperature to 325°F (160°C) and bake for an additional 35 to 40 minutes, or until the cheesecake is set in the center.
Let the bars cool completely in the pan before cutting.
4. Optional Chocolate Drizzle:
For the drizzle, melt the chocolate chips and whipping cream in a double boiler. Once melted, spoon the mixture into a piping bag (or a Ziploc bag with a corner snipped off) and drizzle over the cooled bars.
Storage
Refrigerate in an airtight container. These bars freeze well too!
Enjoy your Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake Bars! 🍫🍒