Chocolate Cream Cheese Brownies

By JanetLynn198

Ingredients

• For the Icing:
• 1 cup chopped bittersweet, semisweet chocolate or chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 lb cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp flour
• 9 oz (18 tbsp) unsalted butter, room temperature; more for pan
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 5 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/8 tsp almond extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• Approximately 12 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped (about 2 cups)

Details

Preparation time 20mins
Cooking time 30mins
Adapted from Cooking.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. FOR THE FILLING: Slowly melt half the chopped chocolate and cream together in a microwave or a double boiler. Set aside to cool. In an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and egg together until fluffy. Add the cooled chocolate mixture and mix well. Add the flour and the remaining chocolate and mix until incorporated. Chill the filling while you assemble the brownie batter.

2. FOR THE BROWNIE BATTER: Heat the oven to 350F. Butter a 9x13: baking pan. Cream the butter and sugar in an electric mixer until fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, making sure that each one is fully incorporated before adding another. Occasionally scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla and almond extracts. Sift together the flour, cocoa, and baking powder and gently blend them into the batter.

3. TO ASSEMBLE: Using an offset metal spatula, spread half the brownie batter into the prepared pan. Spread the filling over the batter. Spoon the remaining brownie batter over the filling and gently spread it into an even layer. Bake for 35 mins, until a knife inserted into the center of the brownies comes out clean.

4. FOR THE ICING: As soon as you remove the brownies from the oven, sprinkle about three-quarters of the chocolate on top. Let sit about 5 mins, until the chocolate has melted. Gently spread the soft chocolate into a thin, smooth layer. If it isn’t enough chocolate, sprinkle a few more pieces on top and spread again, but be careful not to make the icing too thick.