Ali Bakes: Cranberry Cheesecake Brownies

Christmas Eve was full of competition.

 

AND lots and lots of SWEETS!

 

Brian and I faced off--by baking our hearts out for his family's Christmas Eve get-together.  The task:  each of us bake a delicious dessert without telling the other.  Then somewhat-objectively determine whose was best.  Both parts of the challenge were somewhat of a fail because we both ended up finding out what the other was making (that happens when we play soux chef to the other) AND we didn't have official judges...just mostly kept insisting that our own was the better dessert.

 

Anyway, lots of fun was had and lots of delicious chocolate was used.  (So I was a happy camper.) 

 

Brian's creation (and boy was it creative!):  Christmas S'mores

 

What does that mean?  Well, it means he made some gingerbread and cut it into little squares.  Then he made peppermint-flavored marshmallows and cut those into squares.  Then he drizzled dollops of chocolate over each and sprinkled candy cane bits on top.  They were so scrumptious!  (Especially licking all of the batter/chocolate bowls!) 

 

My creation?  Well, I wasn't AS creative as Brian, since I didn't make up my recipe.  I chose to make:  Cranberry Cheesecake Brownies (Duh...title of blog post.  Haha.)

 

 

So the verdict?  Well, I must admit that both were obviously yummy.  And our idea of having an official judge didn't quite work out.  The 'taste-testers' were undecided.  And Brian and I obviously couldn't come to an agreement. 
So...stalemate, I guess!  We'll have to rethink the competition idea next time!  Ah well, all in the fun of the holidays.  Feel free to try the brownie recipe I used below and let me know what you think!

 

 

Cranberry Cheesecake Brownies

*Adapted from notyourmamascookie.com

 

Ingredients:

⅔ cup flour

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

⅛ teaspoon salt

1 stick of unsalted butter

¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

⅔ cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

⅔ cup white chocolate chips

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

1 egg yolk

5 tablespoons sugar

¼ teaspoon vanilla

⅔ cup cranberry sauce

 

Instructions:

 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line an 8×8 or 9×9 pan with foil or parchment paper and grease well. 

 

Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt in a medium bowl.  Set aside.  Melt together the semi-sweet chocolate and the stick of butter in the microwave or on the stove top using a double boiler.  Heat until smooth. 

 

Using a hand mixer, beat in the ⅔ cup white sugar and the 1 teaspoon of vanilla.  Beat in eggs one at a time.  Gradually stir in the flour mixture until incorporated.  Fold in the white chocolate chips and press into the pan. 

 

Beat together the cream cheese, egg yolk, 5 tablespoons sugar, and the vanilla together until smooth and creamy.  Drop dollops of cream cheese mixture over the brownie mixture. 

 

It was my desire to also spread out the dollops over the surface of the chocolatey goodness.  Your choice.

 

 Add spoonfuls of cranberry sauce over the cream cheese (if your cranberry sauce is too jellified, mash with a fork before using). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swirl it all together with a butter knife and bake for 35-45 minutes, until middle is just set. 

 

Cool in the pan, cut, and serve.