Cherry Cheese Brownies

Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or light greasing.

Prepare the brownie batter according to package directions using the egg and vanilla, then spread half of the batter evenly into the prepared pan.

Beat the softened cream cheese with a hand mixer or whisk until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute.

Combine the beaten cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk, mixing until well incorporated and smooth.

Spread the cream cheese mixture over the brownie base layer, creating an even middle layer.

Top the cream cheese layer with the remaining brownie batter, gently spreading to cover completely.

Spoon the cherry pie filling over the top brownie layer, distributing the cherries and filling evenly across the surface.

Bake for 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the brownie portion comes out with just a few moist crumbs.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes before cutting into squares and serving.