Ingredients

• 8 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
• ¾ cup butter, cubed
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup maraschino cherries, chopped

Topping

• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup mashed ripe banana
• ⅓ cup strawberry preserves
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• ¼ cup salted peanuts, chopped
• Sliced bananas and maraschino cherries, optional for topping

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth.
2. 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 13×9-in. baking pan.
3. 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.
4. Bake 40-45 minutes or until topping is set and a toothpick inserted in brownie portion comes out mostly clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.
5. Cut into bars. If desired, serve bars topped with sliced bananas and additional cherries.