Cheesecake + Chocolate + Kahlua = No words.

Sorry I've been distant. I promise I've been baking away (when time allows) but graduate school kind of messes with one's baking schedule. It's been a good semester, and baking has occurred a few times, I have just neglected to post about it. So to honor the 50% of you (okay so it was only 2 people) that voted for what dessert you want to see next, you shall get what you deserve: C-H-E-E-S-E-C-A-K-E!

Well, sorta. There are two things that I love more than cheesecake and they are A) chocolate and 2) Kahlua. Sorry I'm not sorry.  I cannot deny my obsession, nay, addiction, to all things chocolate. (I do add the "chocolate" to the "ginger and chocolate" after all). So why not make an indulgent cheesecake/chocolate/Kahlua brownie? That's what I thought.

I decided to make these for a mini-Denison reunion with fellow liqueur/dessert lovers: Michelle, Sarah, and Emily. These brownies are soooooo good. I made them once for a family brunch and they were gone in a flash...my cousin later admitted that she stole a few and hid them from the fam in the deep depths of the fridge. 

What I love even more about this recipe is it starts with a simple boxed brownie mix. Now, I'm all about 'from scratch' recipes, but I'm telling you, in my many years of baking, (okay, less than a decade) in the words of U2: I still haven't found what I'm looking for. I've tried dozens of from scratch brownie recipes and maintain that the best comes from a box. Now, a terrific way to hide this and save my street cred in baking blog world is to, as my mother says, "jazz is up!" Whether you decide to add chocolate fudge frosting (my Great Aunt Mary's is SUPERB..will post about later) or start with a basic boxed brownie and add Kahlua and cream cheese and chocolate chips (this post); you can do wonders AND save a lot of time.

Duncan Hines chewy fudge, gets 'em every time!

I also wanted to take this time to dedicate my post to Applesauce. Yes, applesauce. You can imagine my horror when I opened my parents cupboard and found that the vegetable oil had gone missing! (or somebody forgot to buy new vegetable oil but let's not point any fingers). Mid-stir, I went over to my friends at Google and found out applesauce is the perfect (AND healthier, hello saving a few diets!) alternative to vegetable oil. Use the same amount of applesauce that the recipe calls for to replace the oil. These brownies turned out exactly the same so I think I will be using applesauce from now on as my healthy excuse to indulge in brownies. Just sayin'

The mix right before the oven

Marbled Cream Cheese and Kahlua Brownies


Cheesecake Filling

·  1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, at room temperature

·  5 tablespoons butter, at room temperature

·  1/4 cup granulated sugar

·  1 large egg

·  1 tablespoon Kahlua (certainly you can substitute for another coffee liqueur but why would you?!)

Ingredients for the Brownies

·  1 package (19.8 ounces) brownie mix (I used classic Duncan Hines)

·  1/3 cup vegetable oil (OR healthy alternative: 1/3 cup applesauce)

·  1/4 cup Kahlua 

·  2 large eggs

·  1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Prepare the filling. Place the cream cheese, butter, sugar, egg and Kahlua in a large, mixing bowl and blend with an electric mixer on low speed until the mixture is smooth. Set the bowl aside.

2. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly mist the bottom of a 13- by 9-inch pan with vegetable oil spray. Set the pan aside.

3. Place the brownie mix, oil (or applesauce), Kahlua, and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Stir with a wooden spoon until all the ingredients are incorporated and the batter lightens in texture( approx 50 strokes).

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it out evenly with a rubber spatula. Spread the cream cheese filling over the top of the batter, and using a dinner knife, swirl it into the batter to create a marbled effect. Scatter the chocolate chips evenly over the top. Place the pan in the oven.

4. Bake the brownies until they are lightly browned and the outer 2 inches form a crust, 27-30 minutes. (I baked for 28)

Adapted from the Cake Mix Doctor

While waiting for the brownies to bake I sipped on my favorite mixed drink:

1 part kahlua to 1 part club soda, mix and serve over ice. (delicious)

 

 

Final product! Warm cheesecake is never very good until cold

but I went ahead and ate a large square immediately, couldn't resist!

Had to add this one, too funny. Mix is almost identical to my parent's counter-top. 

I'm guessing one of the right tastes a lot better though..

Love and Chocolate, Kayla :)