I Gave My Love a Cream Cheese Swirl Brownie

mmelinger ♦ December 2, 2012 ♦ 4 Comments

Yes, they are that good.  What the hell was she thinking, dumping someone who bakes like this?

Back by popular demand, a recipe absolutely nobody asked for, but it’s one of my favorites and you can thank me later.

This is from my pastry chef days at The Homefried Truckstop,  so it was road-tested numerous times and proved to be a big seller.  Those we didn’t scarf down ourselves, that is.  Collective workers are hungry little people, with sneaky little hands.

Wow, this recipe is really hard to read because somewhere in the distant past the page was stained with softened butter.  But here goes.

First, the dough:

8 squares unsweetened chocolate

2 cups butter

4 cups sugar

8 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups unbleached white flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups finely chopped walnuts (optional, but gives it body)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 15″ x 10″ x 2″ baking pan (9″ x 12″ also works).

Melt chocolate and butter.  Combine with sugar, beaten eggs, vanilla.  Blend in flour and salt, stir in chopped nuts when blended.  Spread HALF this mixture into the greased pan and bake 30 minutes or until firm.  Meanwhile, mix the filling:

1 lb. room-temp cream cheese

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 tablespoons sour cream

When the dough comes out of the oven, cool slightly and then spread the filling mixture evenly over the top.  Then spread a third layer with the other half of the dough mix that has been patiently waiting nearby.  With a knife, swirl through the filling and the top layer to create a marbled effect.  Don’t overdo it!  Or she may think you have lost your marbles.

Bake for 50 to 60 additional minutes, or until a toothpick tests clean.

I see a note here telling me we can reduce cooking time by halfing the brownie mix but keep the filling the same.  Did I do this?  Who can remember?  The biggest danger is overcooking the bottom layer, so I wouldn’t go too thin.  For brownies, I believe in erring on the underdone side, because dried-out brownies are best suited for packing material.  The cream cheese definitely helps.  In fact, you can omit the dough altogether, make a bowl of just the filling, and sit in front of the TV eating it by yourself with a spoon until either:

A) your sweatpants explode,  or

B) your deluded BF/GF sees the error of their ways and comes racing back to you, Begging Forgiveness and pledging Eternal Love.

Whichever comes first.

When baking is timed correctly, these are outstanding.  If they turn out for you, leave a few on the windowsill and I’ll be right over.