Sunday, November 6, 2011

Chocolate Cream Cheese Brownies

Oh, man.  I think it's been a good three weeks since I've blogged anything.  And the Slacker of the Year award goes to.... me!  I promise I have a good reason, so I think it's time for a little pop quiz!  Oh, how I love to throw in some pop quizzes onto my blog.  

I have been MIA for three weeks because:

A.  I'm a secret under-cover FBI agent desperately in search of trying to find the cure for spousal snoring
B. I have travelling the been world with Willie Nelson to braid his hair before performances.
C. I have been carving a 135 pound pumpkin as Jabba the Hutt to enter it into a biggest carved pumpkin contest.
D. I have been training ostriches for 14 hours a day to dance the cha-cha line to perform for the President of PETA.
E. I have been terribly sick, nauseous, tired, and pukey because I am expecting my third child in 28 weeks (not that I'm counting).

I know it's tough to pick between those amazing choices.  I wish more than anything it was B or D, but the correct answer is E.  Hooray!  I'm super excited, but when my kids go to bed, I crawl onto the couch and fall asleep in five minutes flat- unless I'm watching an awesome super hero movie.  I'm a sucker for those movies! 
As for these brownies, I tried this recipe tonight, and I thought they turned out amazing.  The consistency of the brownies was great, and the marbled cream cheese stuff added a nice little touch.  If you want something other than a traditional all -chocolate brownie, give this a shot!  Tasty stuff, my friends!
 Chocolate Cream Cheese Brownies
Source: Tast of Home "The Baking Book" (a must-have!)

4 oz German Chocolate, broken into squares
3 T butter
2 eggs
3/4 c sugar
1/2 c flour
1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1 t vanilla
1/4 t almond extract (optional, but a nice touch)
1/2 c chopped nuts (optional, but I left them out for fear of losing a friendship)

Filling:
2 T butter, softened
3 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 c sugar
1 egg
1 T flour
1/2 t flour

Melt the chocolate and butter in a microwave in 30 second intervals until it gets smooth after stirring.  Cool.  In another bowl, beat the eggs.  Add the sugar, and whisk until the mixture becomes light yellow and thick.  Add the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Stir well.  Add the melted chocolate, vanilla and almond extract, and nuts (if using.)  Pour half of the batter into an 8x8 pan.
 In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese until fluffy.  Add the sugar, beating until it's fluffy.  Mix in the egg, flour, and vanilla.  Mix it well.  Pour this over the brownie layer in the pan. Spread it to all sides.

Plop the remaining brownie mixture onto the top of the cream cheese mixture. 
 Use a knife and drag it from one side of the pan to the other- going back and forth like you're mowing a lawn. 
 When you're done, you'll have a lovely marbled effect on the brownies.
 Bake them in a 325 oven for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. 

 Let them cool for about 10-15 minutes then cut into squares.  These bad boys are really rich, so I would cut them into 16 squares. 
Serve them warm with a nice, cold glass of milk.  Honestly, is there any other way to eat a brownie?!

2 comments:

  1. What?! Congratulations, girl!!! Yay for you - minus pregnancy sickness :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. YAY!!!! Congratulations! 28 weeks to go - time will fly by. :)

    ReplyDelete