Kitchen Smack: Marble Brownies
Ok, so I admit it would probably be cheaper to buy a box of brownie mix and prep the cream cheese mix, but every so often I like to do things the hard way, and by scratch, just to keep my skills alive. This is a great dessert for anything, even just packing in lunches.
Ingredients
- Nonstick spray for baking
- 1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 3/4 cup butter, cut into small pieces
- 2-1/4 cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with heavy foil, extending foil 2 inches over edges of pan. Lightly coat foil with nonstick spray for baking; set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine cream cheese and the 2 tablespoons butter. Beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until mixture is fluffy. Gradually add the 1/4 cup sugar, beating until light. Beat in the 1 egg and the 1 tablespoon flour just until combined. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the 1 1/4 cups flour, the baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine chocolate and the 3/4 cup butter. Cook and stir over low heat just until melted. Transfer to a large bowl. Gradually add the 2 1/4 cups sugar, beating on low speed until combined. Add the 4 eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Beat in milk, vanilla, and almond extract. Gradually beat in flour mixture.
- Spread the chocolate batter in the prepared baking pan. Spoon cream cheese mixture in mounds on top of chocolate batter. Using a table knife or narrow metal spatula, gently swirl the cream cheese mixture into the chocolate batter to marble. Sprinkle with pecans.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs attached. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Use the foil to lift uncut brownies out of pan. Cut into brownies.