Saturday, August 28, 2010

CHEESECAKE BROWNIES

Today we made Cheesecake Brownies. This recipe is adapted from a recipe by David Lebovitz. I first found this recipe on his wonderful website, and you'll also see it featured in his latest cookbook, 'Ready For Dessert.' Buy the book and visit his website at: http://www.davidlebovitz.com/
Everything I've ever baked from his website and cookbook has been superb. I ran, didn't walk, to my local bookstore shortly after the release date and purchased this cookbook. I'm so glad I did! If you're always ready for dessert, as I am, (and apparently Mr. Lebovitz is) you should pick up a copy of his book too. You won't regret it. The photography is marvelous and his concise directions will make you look like a professional.

Let's make his famous Cheesecake Brownies!

First line a 9 inch square pan with foil, making sure it goes up all four sides. Mist with a non-stick cooking spray, or grease lightly with butter. Using the foil makes for an easy cleanup and allows you to remove the brownies easily when they're cool.
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and chocolate over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from the heat and beat in the sugar and then the 2 eggs. In the same pan mix in the flour, cocoa powder and salt, then the vanilla and chocolate chips.
To make the cheesecake topping: In a separate bowl beat/whisk the 8 oz. cream cheese, the egg yolk, 5 tablespoons of sugar and 1/8 teaspoon of vanilla until smooth.
Spread the brownie mixture evenly in the prepared pan
Distribute the cream cheese mixture in 8 or 9 globs/dollops across the top of the brownie mixture.
Take a dull knife or spatula and swirl the cream cheese with the chocolate batter. Resist the temptation to mix and swirl too much or you'll just make the brownies look muddy. You want big pockets of cheesecake.
The finished product. The brownie base is really rich and moist, and the cheesecake topping is just heavenly. Can we nominate someone for Sainthood based on his recipes? I don't see why not! He needs to come home from the sweet life in Paris .... they can't possibly love him as much as we do! Meanwhile I'll visit his website, and devour his cookbook page by page.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 inch pan with foil (see photo) and spray with cooking spray, or lightly grease it with butter.

Brownie Base

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces (only use real butter)
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped. (use good quality chocolate)
2/3 cup sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 Cup semisweet chocolate chips

Cheesecake Topping

8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 large egg yolk
5 tablespoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

To make the brownies melt the butter, then add the chopped bittersweet chocolate and stir over low heat until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar, followed by the 2 eggs. Mix in the flour, cocoa powder, salt and vanilla. Then add the chocolate chips. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, and spread evenly.

To make the cheesecake topping: In a medium bowl beat or whisk together the cream cheese, egg yolk, sugar and vanilla until smooth.

Distribute the cream cheese mixture in 8 or 9 dollops across the top of the brownie batter. Take a butter knife or spatula, and lightly swirl the cream cheese mixture into the brownie batter. Resist the temptation to mix and swirl too much or you'll make the brownies muddy. You want to have big pockets of cheesecake.

Bake the brownies until they're just set in the center. About 35 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan before lifting out the foil to remove the brownies.

Eat and enjoy! If you're feeling generous, share with friends. These are pretty rich, so you can get your full share of chocolate addiction in a small piece, and still have some to spread around to your friends and acquaintances. If they didn't love you before, they'll love you now.

Mary

12 comments:

  1. Wonderful! I love the combination of cheesecake and brownie, as I procclaimed in my recent post actually. Interesting to see other people's recipes for the same dessert.

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  2. http://apronaddict.blogspot.com/

    One word - Yum !

    As a late starter to the whole blogging thing I've just started following David Lebovitz, that book looks very tempting.

    Heather

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  3. Mary, the cheesecake brownie looks so yummy. I have tried one of his brownie recipe too, dulce de leche brownie, tasted superb too.

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  4. Hi Brittany! I need to get a new scale so I can try your recipe for cheesecake brownies. I know some of the common conversions of weights and measurement, but not all of them. I wish the USA had gone with the rest of the world with measurements.

    Hi Heather! His book is so worth it. I love cookbooks, and if they have good photos of the finished baked goods I find them hard to resist.

    Hi Jess! I tried the dulce de leche brownies too. They were yummy!

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  5. Cheesecake and brownies- two of my favorite things! These look marvelous!

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  6. Thanks for stopping by my blog!!! These brownies look delicious!!! I love cheesecake brownies!

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  7. Your brownies look GREAT!

    i went to culinary school and i have a pastry chef degree ( i just don''t work as a chef...:() ..and i have never heard that % about chocolate? I know when making chocolates i use @ 50% because it tempers easier, and i like the "flow"of it ..but that is personal preference. but never heard anything about cakes. I have many recipes that use way over 50 %

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  8. Yummmmm!!! These look like the perfect breakfast! :)

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  9. The first time I heard the chocolate advice (about using chocolate under a certain percentage) was from a Chef at a Restaurant in my home state of Rhode Island. He said under 60% (Old wives tale?) More recently I read something similar in David Lebovitz's book Ready For Dessert, on page 6. He says he doesn't bake with more than 70 percent due to their lack of fluidity and greater acidity. I've used 72% and not had a problem with either ... so far. I used 72% bittersweet in this recipe, and the chips were 60%. No acidity or fluid problems in this recipe. Next time I'll try the 58% and see if there's a difference. Any excuse to bake! :-)

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  10. I love brownies of all kinds and my husband loves cheesecake! I think these are a win-win for us! I plan on making some today!!

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  11. These are awesome, aren't they. I used the Joy Of Baking recipe, I do have to say, Iw as really worried after the baking time wa sover, the brownies just didn't seem "done", so i kept shoving them back in and baking them more and more. End result, the brownies were still fantastic, I guess I was too cowardly to pull them out when they were still "gooo-ey". Thanks for stopping by my blog recently. And yes, the homemade mascarpone recipe is a brilliant save, i know how tricky it can be to get some (and cheap too).

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