Cream Cheese Marble Brownies

February 10: National Cream Cheese Brownies Day

Although we have baked brownies and blondies before (click on the links for our blog recipe posts), we especially like the combination of colors and artistry of cream cheese marble brownies. We think they are a sweet symbol of us as an intermarried couple—a brownie girl with a blondie boy. In fact, we really like the marbled motif that our own wedding and 10th anniversary renewal cakes were chocolate swirled with vanilla and our wedding favors were Hershey’s Hugs (milk chocolate “hugged” by sweet cream). Cream cheese marble brownies are less elaborate to make than a wedding cake but they are still a special snack for Highlander and Islander on occasion, like on National Cream Cheese Brownies Day.

Recipe

(Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens and Kraft Philly)

For the brownie base

• 1 ¼ cups flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ salt
• 6 squares (1 ounce each) unsweetened chocolate (we used Baker’s brand)
• ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) butter, cut into small pieces
• 2 ¼ cup sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• ¼ cup milk

Directions

Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with heavy duty foil. Mist with cooking spray. In a bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In a large, microwave-safe mixing bowl, melt the chocolate squares with the butter. Stir until well combined.

Mix in the sugar. Beat in the eggs, Add the vanilla and milk. Blend all ingredients until smooth.

Gradually add the flour mixture and stir until the batter is smooth. Spread into the baking pan. Make the cream cheese topping.

For the cream cheese topping

• 1 bar (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened (we used Kraft Philadelphia brand)
• 1/3 cup sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg

Directions

Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar, vanilla and egg and mix until smooth. Drop the topping batter in random spaces on top of the brownie spread. Use a toothpick to swirl a marbled design on top, being careful not to overmix.

Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 40-45 minutes until the brownie base is cooked through. Remove from the oven and cool completely. Carefully lift the foil out of the pan. Cut the brownies into squares and serve.

Notes

• Thanks to our talented Auntie Maria B. for making our marble-flavored wedding and anniversary cakes. Some of the intermarried couples whose weddings we have sponsored at church also had a marble-style wedding cake.
• Search our blog for variations of brownie recipes.