A Handful of Everything: Cherry Cheesecake Coca Cola Brownies

This post is for the February Behind the Curtain Dessert Challenge! Every month Miss Sheryl @ The Lady Behind the Curtain hosts this amazing challenge. We are given two new ingredients every month to work with and then we must create a new dessert recipe using those ingredients. For Valentine's Day we were given Cherry and Coke. Since I've already made Cherry Coca Cola Cupcakes I had to put on my thinking cap and come up with something new. After a few baking fails I did find a winner! Enter the Cherry Cheesecake Coca Cola Brownies.

Cherry Cheesecake Coca Cola Brownies

Brownie
18.4 oz Supreme Original Brownie Mix with Hershey's in a pouch
1/4 cup Coca Cola
1/2 cup oil
1 extra large egg, lightly beaten

Cheesecake
8 oz cream cheese, softened
6 Tbsp (1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp) sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 extra large egg

1/2 recipe for Easy Homemade Cherry Pie Filling or 1 15 oz can of Cherry Pie Filling.

Preheat oven to 375˚ F. If making your own cherry pie filling follow these directions now. Set aside to cool.

In a large bowl add the brownie mix. Snip the end of the Hershey's syrup and add to the dry ingredients along with the Coca Cola, oil, and lightly beaten egg. With a rubber spatula or wooden spoon mix until all the dry ingredients are completely incorporated. But don't over-mix.

Spray a 8x10" baking dish and pour in the brownie batter, spreading evenly with the spatula.

In a separate bowl beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Beat for 2-3 minutes until smooth and creamy.

Carefully spoon the cheesecake mixture on top of the brownie batter already in the pan.

Using a knife, swirl the batters together using a figure 8 motion.

Spoon the cherry pie filling over the top of the cheesecake and brownie mixture. Repeat the figure 8 pattern using the knife again over the mixture creating a marbled pattern with all three layers.