Sunday, January 24, 2010

Sweet Melissa Sundays - Black Bottom Brownies


I've said it before: I love chocolate and I love cheesecake, but I don't love chocolate cheesecake. Would this week's Sweet Melissa Sundays recipe, Black Bottom Brownies, change that?

Fortunately, my copy of The Sweet Melissa Baking Book arrived this week so I wasn't squinting at the recipe preview on Amazon (and many thanks to my fellow SMS bakers Raeann and Hanaâ who offered to send me the recipe if the cookbook hadn't arrived). The recipe starts with a deep, dark brownie layer, with a thick and creamy cheesecake layer smoothed over it. Then came the part that left me scratching my head...scatter 2 cups of chocolate chips over the top of the cheesecake. It was probably done 5-10 minutes before I realized it and yanked it out of the oven, so mine had a little more color than I would have liked. After cooling, it went off to the fridge before cutting.


While this didn't change my mind about the chocolate/cheesecake combination, it was very popular at work. If I were to make it again, I'd make some changes, like shifting the chocolate chips to the brownie layer and maybe flavoring the cheesecake with espresso or extra vanilla.

Many thanks to Cynthia of Bakingtherapist's Blog for hosting this week. If you'd like the recipe, visit Cynthia or better yet, buy the book. It has dozens of sweet and delightful recipes like this one.

14 comments:

Megan said...

I think Nick Malgieri's recipe for cheesecake brownies is my favorite. Of course, I haven't tried this one, so if you have an extra one laying around, send it my way!

Hanaâ said...

It looks great. Too bad it didn't change your mind on cheesecake brownies. I never had cheesecake brownies before and looked forward to these. The "plain" cheesecake batter didn't sit well with me though, so I made a raspberry cheesecake batter. Raspberry + chocolate = yummy goodness. Check out my post later today :o)

Every Day Blessings said...

Yours look delicious! I am so glad that they turned out for you

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for all of your tips on these brownies Leslie! I took your advice to move the chips to the brownie layer and I added lemon zest to the cheesecake layer. The result? I thought they were pretty tasty!

Yours look wonderful and I have to tell you, your photos look terrific! So glad you decided to join the group :)

Shandy said...

I am sorry the recipe did not change your mind about the flavor combo. My daughter Ashley has the same thoughts about chocolate and cheesecake. She loves both separately but not together. Well, your brownies look delicious!
Congratulations on finally getting your copy of Melissa's cookbook.

Susan said...

Glad to hear you have your own copy of the cookbook now. :) My chips sunk through the cheesecake layer and melted on top of the brownie layer. We weren't crazy about these. Yours look great!

Flourchild said...

Yum they look so good!I had to pass on these this week!

Mimi said...

They look fabulous.I like the idea of adding espreso to the cheesecake layer.
Mimi

margot said...

Your brownies look terrific! I am not big on cheesecake, so I knew these wouldn't be a huge favorite for me, but I tasted more brownie than cheesecake my boyfriend is enjoying them.

Nina said...

These look terrific! I think that I have had loads of cheesecake brownies to now love it.

I noticed that you are an accountant. That's what I want to be, either that or a CPA or an auditor or something like that. I haven't completely decided yet!

spike. said...

glad the coworkers liked it! and looks like the perfect color to me

Kayte said...

Guaranteed this would be a hit around here with the guys. Yours look really good, they would be drooling!

Andrea at Nummy Kitchen said...

Your brownies look great, sorry they weren't more of a hit with you. I think I was feeling the same way, they didn't knock my socks off like you'd expect cheesecake brownies to do. At least you had some takers at work :)

Julie said...

Your brownies look delicious! My co-workers love it when I share the treats with them!