Step 1: Prepare the Chocolate Crumble

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
• In a food processor, combine the flour, cocoa powder, and brown sugar. Pulse a few times to mix.
• Add the cold butter cubes and pulse until the mixture becomes crumbly. If you don’t have a food processor, you can also use a pastry knife or your hands to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until a crumbly texture forms.
• Reserve 1 cup of the crumble mixture for later use as the topping.
• Press the remaining crumble mixture firmly into the bottom of a greased or parchment-lined 9×13 inch baking pan to create the crust.
• Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 25 minutes until set. Allow the crust to cool slightly while you prepare the cheesecake filling.

Step 2: Make the Cheesecake Filling

• In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, white sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon juice until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until just incorporated. Be careful not to overmix the eggs to avoid too much air in the batter, which can cause cracking.
• Spread the cheesecake filling evenly over the slightly cooled chocolate crust.
• Evenly distribute the quartered cherries over the cheesecake layer. You can gently press them into the filling if needed to ensure even coverage.

Step 3: Add the Topping and Bake

• Take the reserved chocolate crumble mixture from earlier and press it together with your hands. Break it into small chunks and sprinkle these over the cheesecake and cherries. This adds a delicious crumbly topping that complements the creamy filling.
• Lower the oven temperature to 325°F (160°C) and bake the cheesecake bars for an additional 35 to 40 minutes, or until the cheesecake layer is set in the center.
• Once baked, remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan before slicing. Cooling them fully ensures clean cuts and prevents the cheesecake from falling apart.

Step 4: Optional Chocolate Drizzle

• For the ultimate finishing touch, you can add a chocolate drizzle. In a double boiler (or microwave using 20-second increments), melt the chocolate chips with the whipping cream until the mixture is smooth and glossy.
• Transfer the melted chocolate to a piping bag or a Ziploc bag with a small corner cut off. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the cooled cheesecake bars in a decorative pattern.
• Allow the chocolate drizzle to set before serving.