RECIPE: Cream Cheese Brownies

I *love* cheesecake desserts, but many of them are quite expensive to make, calling for several bricks of cream cheese. This is a good way to get my cheesecake fix while using only a single brick. Even better, that creamy layer is resting atop a dense and fudgy chocolate brownie - dessert perfection!!

 

Ingredients:

Brownie layer:
3 oz chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt 

Cream cheese layer:
8 oz cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla

Instructions:
Line a 9x9" pan with parchment paper.
To make the brownie layer:
In a large saucepan, melt together the butter and chocolate chips. Cool to room temperature. Add sugar, eggs, flour, vanilla, and salt, stirring until well combined. Set aside 1/2 cup batter, then pour remaining batter in prepared pan, spreading evenly.
To make the cream cheese layer:
With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add sugar, egg and vanilla and beat until smooth. Carefully pour over top of brownie layer in pan. Dollop spoonfuls of reserved brownie batter over cream cheese layer, then swirl gently with a knife. Bake at 325F for 25 minutes, or until cream cheese layer is just barely set (be careful not to overbake!). Cool on wire rack to room temperature, then chill in refrigerator for several hours before cutting into squares.
Makes 16 brownies.

I shared this recipe at Frugal Food Thursday,  Full Plate Thursday, It's a Keeper Thursday, Recipe Swap Thursday, the GCC Recipe Swap, Fat Camp Friday and Friday Favorites.