Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies

March 3rd, 2013

What could be better than rich chocolate brownies with a sweet and tart cheesecake topping?  That would be the same with a hit of fresh raspberries.  I have been cleaning and organizing the Florida house in preparation for our return to Lake Lure.  In the little used cabinet over the refrigerator I rediscovered my notebook of recipes from a whole live time ago.  Yellowed pages, stained and annotated by a younger me, brought back memories of the young wife and mother I used to be.  Dishes that I have not prepared in years reminded me of specific dinners with friends and family.

This brownie recipe is one of them .  It is an old recipe from Gourmet Magazine.  They are relatively easy to make; only requiring a few steps to make the layers.  My husband has always claimed the brownie prowess in our family.  He won a blue ribbon from 4-H for his recipe as a child.  But he is considering  yielding his status as “Brownie Expert” after tasting this rendition.  To me, the cream cheese layer lightens the richness of the chocolate brownie.  In addition, raspberries go so well with chocolate.

I feel like I have found a treasure trove of memories through recipes.  Another recipe I will share soon is my Texas Pecan Torte.  It was a dinner party favorite for many years.  I just hope our diets can survive this onslaught.

RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE BROWNIES

For Brownie Batter:
4 ounces fine-quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup all-purpose flour

For Cheesecake Topping:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups raspberries
1 tablespoon sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and butter and flour a 13-by 9-inch baking pan.

Make Brownie Batter:
In a metal bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water melt chocolates with butter, stirring, and cool.  Whisk in sugar and eggs, 1 at a time, and whisk in vanilla and salt.  Whisk in flour until just combined and spread batter evenly in prepared pan.

Make Cheesecake topping:
In a bowl with an electric mixer cream together cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy and beat in lemon juice, egg, vanilla, and salt.  Beat in flour and spread mixture in an even layer over batter.
Scatter raspberries over topping and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake brownies in middle of oven 35 to 40 minutes, or until top is puffed and pale golden and a tester comes out with crumbs adhering to it.  Cool brownies completely in pan on a rack and chill, covered, at least 6 hours or overnight.

Cut brownies into bars and sprinkle with confections’ sugar if desired.  Serve brownies cold or at room temperature.  Makes about 24 brownies.

Printable recipe

 

 

 

 

12 responses to “Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies”

  1. Susan says:

    What fun, finding those old recipes. These brownies look great…and with raspberries……sigh

  2. Penny says:

    If the rest of the old recipes are this good, I can’t wait to see more!
    Hugs,
    Penny

  3. Mary says:

    I’ll bet finding those recipes brought a smile to your heart. Your brownie recipe looks fantastic! Thank you for sharing!

  4. Jennifer Staten says:

    They look so yummy! And I know they taste amazing…. the elegant pic is superb!

    • Penny says:

      Thanks Jennie. I have been admiring your artistic work today. Mom would be so proud of her beautiful Granddaughter. Love you, Aunt Penny

  5. bellini says:

    When I loved a few years ago I threw out a box I had filled with old recipes collected since childhood thinking I could always find what I wanted on line. How I miss some of those recipes.

  6. Sprigs of Rosemary says:

    A treasure trove you’ve found, all right. Although I love all my new ways of saving recipes, I love digging into the paper files, my own and others. Like sneaking a peak into someone’s purse!

  7. Sam Hoffer says:

    How fun to find the recipes. I find it interesting to see how my taste has changed through the years. If the brownie expert approves, these must be fantastic!
    Sam

  8. Karen says:

    Love the cheesecake topping on these. And the raspberry doesn’t hurt, either 😉

  9. City Home/Country Home says:

    I have raspberries in the freezer from the garden last year to use up. These are beautiful Penny. I even have cream cheese in the fridge. Won’t my husband be pleased tonight!:!

  10. Barbara Williams says:

    I’m loving all your raspberry recipes, Penny. This one is a real winner!
    Everyone makes fun of saving those old Gourmets….but I can’t bear to part with them. Sometimes I tear pages out and stick them in a folder…just to save space. I haven’t thrown out one of my Donna Hays. (does that make me a hoarder? Someone recently introduced me to that TV show….I was appalled.)

  11. Eileen says:

    What lovely memories. And these look wonderful. I love raspberries and chocolate.

© Penny Klett, Lake Lure Cottage Kitchen. All rights reserved.