How to Make Non-Box Brownies...

Food is a great way to say thank you to someone, to show your gratitude for something they did for you and in our case recently, it was helping us load and unload the moving truck. So as a thank you, we really appreciate you helping us load and unload the truck in the ridiculously HOT weather we had on the day we moved, here are some brownies. I made these cream cheese brownies as that edible thank you. 

I may have mentioned before that the only boxed item I will buy to make dessert is brownies, there is just something about those chewy, chocolate boxed brownies that I have yet to make from scratch. However, I think I might have found a really really good homemade brownie recipe that has the addition of cream cheese.

So between the chocolateyness and creaminess of the cream cheese, these brownies are sure to be a crowd pleaser unless you are a chocolate or cream cheese hater.

First, gather together your ingredients. 

2/3 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, 1 stick butter (1/2 cup), 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 3 large eggs, 8 ounces cream cheese, softened, 1 egg yolk. 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a 9X9, 8X8 square pan with foil for easy removal after the brownies are baked. 

In a small bowl, add the flour and baking powder and mix. 

In a double boiler or a pan over another pan filled with simmering water, in the top pan melt the chocolate and butter until smooth and completely melted.

 Remove the melted chocolate from the heat and add in 1 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla. 

Add in the three eggs individually, stirring after adding in each egg. 

Lastly, add in the flour and baking powder and mix until completely incorporated.

In another small bowl, mix together the cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 1 egg yolk. 

Pour in half of the brownie batter. 

Then drop all cream cheese mixture spoonful by spoonful over the batter. Then pour the remainder of the brownie batter. 

Use a knife to swirl the two different batters together, creating a marbling effect.

Bake the brownies for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick or knife stuck in the center comes out clean with a few crumbs sticking to it. Crumbs are good, wet batter is not. 

Allow the brownies to cool before you cut them. Then cut into squares or bars and serve, eat and enjoy!

p.s. come back tomorrow because I will have the first recipe of my 5 part Julia Child recipes featured each Wednesday here on the blog. It is a yummy recipe I tell you!

Also blog posts will be more consistent as we finally have Internet :-)