Blackberry Cheesecake Swirled Brownies

Friday, April 27, 2012

Blackberry Cheesecake Swirled Brownies

I’m not sure how many of you were around back in September of 2009 when I posted these Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Brownies, but let me tell you, those brownies are amazing. I have been wanting to use them as inspiration for another recipe for a long time now.

When I decided to host a party with all purple food, my mind wondered back to these brownies. I decided to try mixing blackberry with chocolate to make these Blackberry Cheesecake Swirled Brownies. These were a HUGE hit to say the least.

I’m only sad that I served them at the same party as the Purple Ombre Cake because they really didn’t stand a chance compared to that cake. At any other party, they would have been the star of the show.

This recipe could be adapted to almost any flavor of cheesecake that you’d like. The blackberry pairs really well with chocolate, which I was pleased to learn. I preferred these served at room temperature, even though they should be stored in the fridge.

One Year Ago: Fudgey Banana Brownies and Cranberry Raisin Almond Banana Bread
Three Years Ago: Spicey Orange Shrimp
Four Years Ago: Perfect Summer Salsa, Dairy Free Cheesecake Pops, and Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Blackberry Cheesecake Swirl Brownies

Yield: 16 brownies

Ingredients:

For the Blackberry Sauce
6 oz fresh blackberries
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp water
For the Brownie Batter
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup + 2 Tbsp sugar
1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp cocoa
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp espresso powder, optional
1/2 Tbsp vanilla
2 eggs
3/4 cups flour
For the Cheesecake
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp + 2 tsp flour
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions:

For the Blackberry Sauce
Place blackberries and sugar in a pan and heat until the blackberries release their juices.

Combine cornstarch, juice, and water in a small bowl. Stir together until smooth.

Add slurry to pan and stir to mix completely. Bring mixture to boil for a few minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature.

For the Brownie Batter
Preheat oven to 350F. Grease an 8x8" square metal baking pan.

In a saucepan set over low heat, melt the butter, then add the sugar and stir to combine. Return the mixture to the heat briefly, just until it's hot, but not bubbling; it'll become shiny looking as you stir it. Heating this mixture a second time will dissolve more of the sugar, which will yield a shiny top crust on your brownies.

Transfer the sugar mixture to a medium-sized mixing bowl, if you've heated it in a saucepan. Stir in the cocoa, salt, baking powder, espresso powder, and vanilla.

Whisk in the eggs, stirring until smooth. Add the flour, again stirring until smooth.

For the Cheesecake
Beat the cream cheese in the bowl of a mixer until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and beat until well combined.

Add the blackberry sauce and stir until distributed.

To Assemble the Brownies
Spread about 2/3 of chocolate batter into prepared pan, and spoon cheesecake batter over. Dollop remaining brownie batter over cheesecake batter. Swirl the batters together by running a butter knife back and forth through the pan.

Bake for 40 minutes, or until center is set. Cool completely on wire rack and chill before cutting and serving.

Brownie batter recipe adapted from My Go-To Brownie Recipe, originally from King Arthur Flour. Blackberry sauce recipe from me. Cheesecake recipe adapted from Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Brownies

Bars and Brownies, Dessert

7 comments »

13 Responses to “Best Dang Thing EVER Bars”

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1

HoneyB — September 9, 2009 at 1:00 pm

This is a great post and I love that you and your sister made these together! You know its a favorite when you can make a recipe from memory! Thanks for participating 🙂
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2

Laura — September 9, 2009 at 1:45 pm

Awesome bars! You and your sister sound like me and my sister, so I loved this post extra for that. Great submission, thanks for participating.
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3

Colleen — September 9, 2009 at 3:57 pm

Yum, these look SO good! And fairly easy – I will be making them soon!
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4

stephchows — September 9, 2009 at 4:16 pm

Love the story that goes with these 🙂 family recipes are the best!
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5

Katie — September 9, 2009 at 4:18 pm

OH YUM!! Those look so freakign gooooood!!
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6

The American Homemaker — September 9, 2009 at 5:12 pm

Those look great!!!!!!!!!! MMmmmmm
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Ingrid — September 9, 2009 at 8:01 pm

I suppose if you were fond of chocolate they would be the best dang thing. I’d like the blonde version of this instead. 🙂

You almost make me wish I had a sister instead of six brothers, almost. 🙂
~ingrid
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Sara @ Our Best Bites — September 10, 2009 at 3:46 am

oh my neighbor makes these and they are SO good! Mmmm I’m wishing I had one right about now, thanks for sharing the recipe!

(also glad you enjoyed the taquitos!)
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9

Justin — September 11, 2009 at 12:07 am

whoa, a whole pack of caramels? this sounds amazing
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madebymel — September 11, 2009 at 12:46 am

Oh.my.gosh! I bet these really are the best dang thing ever! I can’t wait to make these to bring to work!
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Karen - Mommy to four sweeties — September 18, 2009 at 7:09 pm

I wonder if these can be made with a plain chocolate cake mix since I don’t have a german chocolate one on hand.
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Jen — September 20, 2009 at 11:55 pm

I would think any chocolate cake mix would work
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13

fun size wife — February 25, 2015 at 4:06 pm

These are close to the Pioneer Woman’s Knock You Naked Brownies except for the frosting. Thank goodness chocolate and caramel are legal!