Brownies with a Cream Cheese Swirl Topping



For swirl:

3 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, room temperature
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 large egg
1 tablespoon flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For brownies:

6 ounces sweet, good quality baking chocolate, chopped, or use chocolate pieces
3 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/3 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

For the swirl:

• Lightly butter 8-inch square nonstick baking pan.
• Using electric mixer beat cream cheese and butter in medium bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar and beat until well blended.
• Beat in egg.
• Mix in flour and vanilla.
• Set mixture aside.

For the brownies:

• Stir baking chocolate and butter in heavy small saucepan over low heat until smooth. Cool slightly.
• Using electric mixer, beat sugar and eggs in large bowl until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
• Mix in flour, baking powder and salt.
• Mix in chocolate mixture and extracts.
• Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.

• Spread half of chocolate batter (about 1 1/4 cups) in greased pan.
• Using a rubber spatula spread the cream cheese mixture over chocolate batter.
• Spoon the remaining chocolate batter over top of cream cheese mixture.
• Using tip of knife, gently swirl through batter, forming a marble design.
• Bake brownies until the tester inserted into center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 30 minutes.
• Cool brownies in pan on rack.
• Cut into squares.

Note: Double this recipe for a 9 x 13 inch pan

Yield: 1 1/2 dozen brownies.

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