ALMOND CHEESECAKE BROWNIES

Almond Cheesecake Brownies image

Provided by Lauren Perkins-Boyd @Lauren_Perkins-Boyd

Categories Cakes

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 1/4 cup(s) flour
3/4 teaspoon(s) baking powder
1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
1 1/2 stick(s) butter, softened
4-oz - semi-sweet baking chocolate
3/4 cup(s) cocoa, unsweetened
2 cup(s) sugar
5 large eggs
2 1/2 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
1 1/2 8-oz package(s) cold cream cheese
3/4 teaspoon(s) almond extract

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 13" by 9" baking pan. In a small bowl, combine flour, salt and baking powder.
In a heavy 4-quart saucepan, melt butter and chocolate over low heat, add cocoa powder. Remove from heat. Beat in 1 1/2 cups of sugar with a wooden spoon. Add 4 eggs and 2 teaspoons of vanilla, Beat until well blended. Stir in flour mixture until just combine.
In a medium bowl, with a mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat in remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 1 egg, almond extract and remaining 1/2 vanilla extract, until just blended.
Spread 1 1/2 cups of brownie mixture in to your prepared baking pan. Spoon cream cheese mixture in 6 large dollops on top of brownie mixture. Spoon the remaining brownie mixture on to and around the cream cheese.
With the tip of a knife cut and twist through the mixture to create a marbled effect.
Bake until a toothpick inserted comes out almost clean, 35-40 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
When cool, cut lengthwise into 4 strips and then cut crosswise into 6 strips. Make 24 brownies.