Cream Cheese Brownies

• Brownies
• butter, melted↗1 cup
• sugar↗2 cups
• cocoa (not quite 1/2 c)↗7 tablespoons
• eggs↗4
• flour↗1 cup
• baking powder↗1 teaspoon
• vanilla↗2 teaspoons
• chopped walnuts (optional) or 1/2 cup pecans (optional)1⁄2 cup
• Cream Cheese Layer
• egg↗1
• ounces cream cheese, softened↗4 ounces
• sugar↗2 tablespoons
• flour↗2 tablespoons

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350.

2. 2

   Combine butter, sugar, and cocoa in large mixing bowl.

3. 3

   Add eggs, one at a time. Blend after each addition.

4. 4

   Add remaining ingredients and mix until just combined.

5. 5

   In another bowl, combine ingredients for cream cheese layer. Mix until smooth.

6. 6

   In 9 x 13 greased baking dish, pour half of brownie batter. Smooth to even.

7. 7

   Spoon the cream cheese layer into the baking dish. This shouldn't be an easily spreadable layer--we just dollop and try to smooth it out for a more even distribution.

8. 8

   Use butter knife to slightly marble into bottom layer.

9. 9

   Top with remaining brownie mixture. Spread as evenly as you can, then tap pan lightly on counter to level batter.

10. 10

    Bake 20-25 minutes (some ovens require a full 30 to completely bake), until the top is firm to the touch. Baking too long will result in dry brownies.

11. 11

    Allow to stand 15 minutes before cutting.