So I thought I was a complete genius.
I’ve been thinking about Valentine’s Day lately, and my mind (or is it my stomach?) has been drawn to everything chocolate and red fruit.
Chocolate and strawberry.
Chocolate and raspberry.
Chocolate and cherry.
So I’ve been dreaming up things to make with all of these combinations, and Black Forest is one of my favorite dessert flavors (that is, as in the cake, and not the ham — I’m not quite that adventurous).
Cherry cheesecake was absolutely my favorite growing up, but that might be because it was really the only kind of cheesecake my mom made. No-bake Cherry Cheesecake.
I ate a lot of cheesecake in my University days.
When we lived in the city while I attended, we had a weekly… “tradition”, if you will, with friends of ours: the guys went for wings and the girls went for cheesecake.
Kind of the best tradition ever.
Now that we have kids and don’t live in the city anymore, we don’t eat nearly as much cheesecake.
I know, it’s pretty sad.
And it’s not like I can’t make my own cheesecake and eat the whole thing myself, it’s just that I probably shouldn’t.
Anyway. How was that for a tangent or five?
So I was thinking of my love for Black Forest desserts and cherry cheesecake and thought I had better start experimenting with some Black Forest Cheesecake Brownies for Valentine’s Day.
I go to Pinterest — the expert in all things over-the-top desserts — and type in “Black Forest Cheesecake Brownies”.
I get nothing that really looks like what I’m thinking.
I give myself a pat on the back for being such a smart and creative person. I make my brownies.
They’re delicious.
I go back to Pinterest. Type in “Cherry Cheesecake Brownies”.
Turns out, there are lots of really smart, creative people who have done pretty much the exact same thing. And I eat a whole pan of brownies to console myself.
Luckily though, my good friend and cheesecake-eating partner was out for a visit that day, so I had someone to share them with.
But I couldn’t keep them from you, just because they’re not totally original. They are still incredibly tasty, and fudgy, with gooey cherries and creamy cheesecake. And they’re perfect for that Valentine of yours or, hey, I won’t judge if you make a pan and eat half of it in the same day. All by yourself.
- 1 cup butter, melted, cooled slightly
- 2½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 4 eggs
- 1½ cups whole wheat flour (or sub all-purpose)
- 1 cup cocoa
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 8oz package cream cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ½ can cherry pie filling
- Line a 9x13" pan with tin foil and spray with cooking spray -- this makes for easy clean up. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and sugar until smooth. Add vanilla and eggs and whisk until combined.
- Add flour, cocoa and salt and stir until combined. Batter will be thick.
- Spread half (or just over half) of the batter into the bottom of the pan.
- With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, egg, vanilla and sugar until smooth (it might be thin -- that's okay).
- Spread the cream cheese mixture over the brownie batter. Top with spoonfuls of cherry pie filling (*I didn't want to add so much pie filling that the center would be too gooey and not set up nicely -- see the photo below to see the ratio I used).
- Drop spoonfuls of remaining brownie batter on top of the pie filling. You won't be able to spread the brownie batter, you will just try to cover a good amount (but certainly all) of the filling with the batter. Smooth out the batter somewhat or try to swirl as desired, or just leave it alone!
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes, until center appears set. Note that your brownies might still have a little jiggle to them -- this is because of all of that gooey deliciousness below. I baked mine for 35 minutes in a dark non-stick pan.
- Let cool to room temperature before cutting. They will cut more easily if refrigerated for a few hours, but I couldn't wait, so I didn't!
Adapted from this brownie recipe:
Has anyone ever used a packaged brownie mix? I have some that I want to use up
It should work just fine!
Chocolate and cherries belong together! Love how there’s so much stuff in these brownies! They look so good!
You’ve got us hooked on Cherry Cheesecake Brownies! I thank you.
Thanks Jake! I’m glad to hear you liked them!
Brilliant! These brownies look OUT. OF. THIS. WORLD!!! I will be mixing up a batch ASAP! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks Avril! I think they are my favorite brownies to date!
Thanks for this recipe.. it looks incredible… I am going to have to make it… will also try with strawberries and possibly other fruits… but cherries and strawberries for sure!
Strawberry would also be wonderful! Thanks 🙂
Who cares if someone thought of these first? They look absolutely amazing and I’d eat the whole pan of these for sure! I love the color that the cherries add 🙂
Thanks Bri!
Ohhhh my gosh, these look SOOO good! Chocolate and cherry is such a great pair! And I love that they’re red and festive for V-Day!
Thanks Jess!
wow it looks so delicious and yummy i really want to try this at home , but Ashley each time i bake a cake it it doesn’t cook well from inside so little nervous
Do you mean that they’re undercooked or dry? I always use the toothpick test — I just make sure the toothpick poked in the middle comes out with moist crumbs (but no raw batter) or completely clean. And I always set my timer at least 5-10 minutes before the recipe says, and keep an eye on it closely as it gets to the end! Everyone’s oven is different. Hope you try them!
Cherry cheesecake was always my favorite growing up, and now I love brownies over almost everything else. These brownies cover all my bases — I love that Black Forest combination! These are so perfect for V day!
Thanks Marcie! It’s a pretty epic (though unoriginal) combination in my mind!
Hey! Your idea may not be unique according to Pinterest, but it looks flipping amazing! I too think of chocolate and red fruit for Valentine’s Day desserts! That’s what we ladies like, right?!
I know it’s what I like! Lol.
Wow those brownies look SO decadent! So many delicious flavors going on that just make my mouth drool! Pinned 🙂
Thanks so much Christina!
Ashley these look out of this world amazing!! Event though you found some like your it was after that fact and you came up with it yourself. That is awesome. I rarely come up with ideas on my own. I need to make these asap!! Pinned!
Haha, thanks Cyndi!
These Cherry Cheesecake Brownies look much better than any I’ve seen before. Perfect for Valentine’s Day!
Thanks Christin!
I don’t care how original they are, they look amazing! And I am glad you made them! And just so you know I have done that same thing so many times, thinking I have been so creative…only to find out that someone else has already done it….I am so ready to eat a whole pan of these cherry cheesecake brownies. Yum. Pinned!
Thanks Mariah!
These look incredible! I would’ve totally eaten the pan by myself even if it wasn’t a consolation! 🙂
Haha, thanks Michelle!
Lol! Your story is funny…I’ve done the same thing! These are still drool-worthy. Pinned!
Thanks Julie! Happens to me all the time!
OMG, I seriously LOVE anything cherry! I need to make these cherry cheesecake brownies ASAP! Pinned 🙂
Thanks Jenn!
Cherry cheesecake AND brownies in a single bite? GENIUS! I’d make these in a heartbeat and definitely will be trying them soon. Pinned!
Thanks Melanie! We couldn’t get enough of them!
Oh my gosh! These look so perfect for Valentine’s Day!
Thanks Becky!
Don’t you love when that happens? You think you have come up with something novel and new, and then you Google and it already exists? I stopped checking! It was too depressing! Haha! You are still genius, girl. These brownies are INSANE. I am being completely serious when I tell you that they are some of the most incredible looking brownies I’ve ever seen. These look *awesome*!
Haha, thanks Sarah! Every once in a while I am actually creative. There are just too many wonderful sources of inspiration out there! Lol
I’ve never seen cherry cheesecake brownies before and I think they look amazing! I’m wishing I had a pan right now, and I would totally eat too many 🙂
Thanks Sherri! I know I did!
They look so good, I SU and pinned them 🙂
Thanks Helene!
Well, I think you’re a genius because these brownies look AMAZING! I love chocolate + cherries, and I love anything cheesecake, so these look like a total winner in my book!
Haha, thanks Denise!
I seriously did not need to know that these existed!! They look AMAZING!! Pinned!
Lol. Thanks Lauren!
Wow Ashley these look fantastic!! I’m going to have to make these for Valentine’s Day 🙂 Thanks for sharing your recipe
Thanks Meaghan! I hope you like them!
I now have the biggest cheesecake brownie craving ever. I so wish I had a pan of these in my kitchen right now, but maybe it’s good I don’t because I know I would eat way too many! Original or not, these look absolutely incredible!
Oh my goodness, Kristine. It’s totally embarrassing how many I ate the first day!
I’ll take a whole pan of these, please! These look so amazing, Ashley! I seriously want to dig into these for breakfast. Love the cherry cheesecake combo!
Thanks Gayle!
I AM SO SORRY I JUST CALLED YOU DANAE. While I was typing to you, I was thinking about how I owe my friend Danae an email. Oh my gosh, I’m so embarrassed! Sorry, Ashley!
Love and cupcakes,
Christina
Hahahaha — Forgiven! Let’s call it “baby brain”, shall we? Lol. Thanks Christina!
Wow, Danae! These are beautiful! You’re right–I have seen something like these on pinterest before, but your version is the most beautiful version I’ve ever seen! YUM!
These brownies look absolutely heavenly! I love black forest cake and making them into cheesecake brownies sounds totally amazing! It’s new to me so I’m glad you sharing it here 🙂
Thanks Kelly!
Hahaha, the funniest thing about that story is that I just finished making some cherry cheesecake brownies yesterday after thinking to myself, hey, black forest brownies should be a thing and I’ve never seen that before! I guess I’m not that creative either! 🙂 Oh well. These look amazing, I love the marbled look!
Haha, who cares, right? They’re insanely delicious! Perfect fuel for us to actually be creative 🙂
These brownies are lovely, Ashley! So festive for Valentine’s Day and also just plain ole’ awesome because so much chocolatey goodness. 😀
Thanks Jess! I’m all about chocolately goodness!
I love black forest desserts. Chocolate and cherry are so good together. I love that you added cream cheese to these brownies too! Delicious!
Thanks Natalie!
Gosh, I’m dead! This looks incredible, Ashley! Never ever think that you can’t share something just because someone out there already have done it. If you haven’t shared this today, the chances are I’d miss this fantastic dessert idea all together. So thank you! Oh my, I’ll be making this first thing after my trip!
Thanks Shinee! I’m sure it won’t even compare to the kinds of treats you’ll be enjoying overseas!
Even if they’re not original they’re still pretty flippin’ incredible! Definitely deserve a pat on the back for these. 🙂
Haha, thanks Melanie!