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SWEET BAKES

David Lebovitz’s Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies

These are some of my favorite brownies. French people love "le cheesecake" (aka gâteau au fromage) and this is a fun way to combine them with a classic American treat.

Photo by Joann Pai

INGREDIENTS

For the brownies
 
6 tablespoons (3 ounces/85 grams) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
 
4 ounces (115 grams) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
 
⅔ cup (130 grams) sugar
 
2 large eggs, at room temperature
 
½ cup (70 grams) all-purpose flour
 
1 tablespoon (8 grams) unsweetened natural or Dutch-process cocoa powder
 
⅛ teaspoon salt
 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 
½ cup (80 grams) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips
 
For the cheesecake topping
 
8 ounces (225 grams) cream cheese, at room temperature
 
1 large egg yolk
 
5 tablespoons (75 grams) sugar
 
⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
 

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line the inside of an 8-inch (20-centimeter) square pan with 2 lengths of foil, positioning the sheets perpendicular to each other and allowing the excess to extend beyond the edges of the pan. Or, use one large sheet of extra-wide foil. Lightly grease the foil with butter or nonstick cooking spray.

To make the brownies, in a medium saucepan, melt the butter, then add the chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate and stir over low heat until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the ⅔ cup (130 grams) sugar followed by the 2 eggs. Mix in the flour, cocoa powder, and salt, then stir in the 1 teaspoon vanilla and the chocolate chips. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.

To make the cheesecake topping, in a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, egg yolk, the 5 tablespoons (75 grams) sugar, and ⅛ teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Distribute the cream cheese mixture in 8 dollops across the top of the brownie batter, then, with a butter knife or spatula, swirl the cream cheese mixture very slightly into the batter. Resist the urge to mix and swirl too much, as you’ll just make the brownies muddy—you want big pockets of cheesecake.

Bake until the brownies feel just set in the center, about 35 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan before lifting out the foil to remove the brownies.

STORAGE: The brownies will keep in an airtight container for 2 days. They can also be frozen, wrapped well, for at least 1 month.

Adapted from Ready for Dessert by David Lebovitz. Reprinted by permission of David Lebovitz.

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