Chocolate brownies with a swirl of maraschino cherry-studded cream cheese marbled throughout.

Marbled Cream Cheese Cherry Brownies

Cherry Cream Cheese Filling:

1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/3 cup chopped maraschino cherries, well drained
1 to 2 drops red food color (optional)

 

Brownies:

1/2 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
2 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease 9-inch square baking pan; set aside.
2. Prepare Cherry Cream Cheese Filling: Beat cream cheese and sugar in small bowl on medium speed of mixer until blended. Add egg, vanilla and almond extract; beat well. (Mixture will be thin.) Stir in cherries and food color, if desired; set aside.
3. Stir butter and cocoa in small bowl until well blended; cool slightly.
4. Beat eggs in medium bowl until foamy. Gradually add sugar and vanilla, beating until well blended.
5. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt; add to egg mixture. Add cocoa mixture; stir until well blended.
6. Spread half of chocolate batter into prepared pan; cover with Cherry Cream Cheese Filling. Drop spoonfuls of remaining chocolate batter over filling. With knife or spatula, gently swirl chocolate batter into filling for marbled effect.
7. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool; cut into squares. Cover; refrigerate leftover brownies. Bring to room temperature to serve.

Makes about 16 brownies.