Chocolate-Cherry Cheesecake Bars Recipe

Chocolate-Cherry Cheesecake Bars Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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I’ve had this recipe longer than I can remember. I like to make it for Valentine’s Day and Christmas. The pretty bars also look festive for a party or shower.

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Chocolate-Cherry Cheesecake Bars Recipe

Prep: 20 min. Bake: 20 min. + chilling

Yield: 15 Servings

20 20 40

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup cold butter, cubed
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup 2% milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries
Additional maraschino cherries, halved

Directions

Place the flour, brown sugar and butter in a food processor; cover and process until fine crumbs form. Stir in walnuts. Set aside 3/4 cup for topping.
Press remaining crumb mixture onto the bottom of an ungreased 8-in. square baking dish. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until set.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and cocoa until smooth. Add the egg, milk and vanilla; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in chopped cherries. Pour over crust; sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Cut into bars; top each with a cherry half. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 15 bars.

Nutritional Facts 1 bar equals 227 calories, 12 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 42 mg cholesterol, 87 mg sodium, 27 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 4 g protein.

Originally published as Chocolate-Cherry Cheesecake Bars in Country February/March 2008, p49