Cream Cheese Brownies

Swirled with extra flavor, these Cream Cheese Brownies are what brownie-lovers dreams are made of!

*Disclaimer - This recipe was originally published in 2010. I'm working hard to update all my older recipes with recipe cards, new photos, and additional recipe information. But, getting to all of them will take time. Please bear with me. In the meantime let me assure you that this recipe is still a winner and one I'm sure you'll be well pleased with when you make it at home.

I enjoy baking but I don't especially love having all sorts of tempting sweets around the house. 

That is why I usually only bake when we're having people over, or when we've been invited to someone's house, or for special occasions. 

I'm now in the process of re-thinking my decision and I've started baking on a regular basis. 

If nothing else, I enjoy the process and then my husband can bring my efforts to work.  Not a bad idea and it seems like everybody wins.  Either that or we have to start having a lot of parties at the house.

I made these brownies to take to a friend's backyard BBQ over Labor Day weekend. 

I had some people utter the word "perfect" as they were chowing down on them, but I'm by no means here to tell you they're "perfect." 

What I will tell you is that they are pretty darned good.  It's that salty/sweet thing that gets 'em every time!

TAKE 5 CREAM CHEESE BROWNIES          {PRINT THIS RECIPE}

Cream Cheese Layer:
1 - 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened
¼ cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips


Brownie Layer:
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
¼ cup unsalted butter
½ cup white sugar
2 large eggs
⅔ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt

Topping:
5 or 6 fun size "Take 5" candy bars, chopped

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9-inch square baking pan.

2.  Combine cream cheese, ¼ cup sugar, 1 egg, and vanilla in a mixing bowl: bean until smooth.  Stir in 1 cup of chocolate chips and set aside.

3.  In a microwave-safe bowl, melt 1 cup of chocolate chips and butter together on low power at 30-second intervals, stirring until melted.  Add ½ cup sugar, and 2 eggs and mix until combined.

4.  Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt, and then add the chocolate mixture into the flour mixture.  Stir to combine.

5.  Pour half of the chocolate batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.  Top brownie batter with cream cheese mixture and top the cream cheese layer with the remaining brownie mixture (this won't cover the entire surface).  Using a knife, swirl the top chocolate layer into the cream cheese to make a marble pattern.

6.  Top the entire surface with chopped candy bars.

7.  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the edges pull away from the sides of the pan.  Cool thoroughly and cut into squares.

OMGosh!!! Maybe "perfect" is the perfect word after all! 🙂  Sweet, chocolaty, melty, gooey, salty, crunchy, creamy, and delicious!  Pretty much says it all!

I hope you enjoyed this and I've tempted you to try making these.  You won't be sorry!