1. Prepare the Crumble:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a food processor, pulse together the flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, and cold butter until the mixture becomes crumbly. (Alternatively, use a pastry cutter to blend the butter into the dry ingredients.)
Reserve 1 cup of this crumble mixture for the topping.
Press the remaining crumble mixture firmly into the bottom of a greased or parchment-lined 9×13 inch baking pan.
Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes while you prepare the cheesecake filling.
2. Make the Cheesecake Filling:

In a large mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese, white sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
Add the eggs and beat until fully incorporated.
Spread the cheesecake mixture evenly over the pre-baked chocolate crust.
Sprinkle the quartered cherries evenly across the cheesecake layer.
Take the reserved crumble mixture, press it together with your hands to form small chunks, and sprinkle over the top of the cherries.
3. Bake:

Lower the oven temperature to 325°F (160°C) and bake for an additional 35-40 minutes, or until the cheesecake layer is set in the center.
Let the bars cool completely in the pan before slicing.
4. Optional Chocolate Drizzle:

For the drizzle, melt the chocolate chips and whipping cream together in a double boiler until smooth.
Transfer the mixture to a piping bag or a Ziploc bag with a small corner snipped off, and drizzle over the cooled bars.
Storage:
Refrigerate the bars in an airtight container. They also freeze well for longer storage!
Enjoy these indulgent Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake Bars as a decadent treat!