CHERRY SWIRL FILLED BROWNIES

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/3 cup cocoa
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Directions

1. Prepare cherry cream cheese filling; set aside.(See below for recipe)

2. Heat oven to 350 F. Grease 9 inch square baking pan.

3. Stir together butter and cocoa in a small bowl until well blended; cool slightly.

4. Beat eggs in a medium size bowl until foamy.
Gradually add sugar and vanilla, beating until well blended.
Stir together flour, baking powder and salt; add to egg mixture.
Add cocoa mixture; stir until well blended.

5. Spread half chocolate batter into prepared pan; cover with cherry filling. Drop spoonfuls of remaining chocolate batter over filling. With knife or spatula, gently swirl chocolate batter into filling for a swirling effect.

6. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool then cut into squares.

Cherry Cream Cheese Filling
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 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)

Beat cream cheese and sugar in small bowl on medium speed of electric mixer until blended. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract; beat well. (Mixture will be thin.) Stir in cherries and food color, if desired.

Cover and refrigerate leftover brownies.
Bring to room temperature to serve.

Yield: 16 brownies