Banana-Split Brownies

By srumbel

How's this for a dish—all the joy of a banana split without the mess. Everything in my recipe fits into one pan of delectable brownie bars. —Connee Sheckler, Chestertown, Maryland
from tasteofhome.com

Ingredients

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

Preparation

Step 1

. Preheat oven to 350°. In a microwave, 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 13x9-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. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Yield: 2 dozen.

Nutritional Facts

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