Banana Split Brownies

Total Time
Prep: 45 min. Bake: 40 min. + cooling


Makes
2 dozen

Ingredients

8 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup butter, cubed
3 large eggs, room temperature
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup maraschino cherries, chopped
topping:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mashed ripe banana (about 1 medium)
1/3 cup strawberry preserves
1 large egg, room temperature, lightly beaten
1/4 cup chopped salted peanuts
Optional: Sliced bananas and additional chopped maraschino cherries

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. In a microwave, melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth.
In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar on high speed 10 minutes. Stir in vanilla and chocolate mixture. Gradually stir in flour. Fold in cherries. Spread into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan.
For topping, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in mashed banana and preserves. Add egg; beat on low speed just until blended. Spread over brownie batter, sprinkle with peanuts.
Bake until topping is set, and a toothpick inserted in brownie portion comes out mostly clean, 40-45 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Cut into bars. If desired, serve bars garnished with banana slices and additional cherries. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts

1 brownie: 262 calories, 16g fat (9g saturated fat), 57mg cholesterol, 101mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.