Recipe #37: Red Velvet Cheesecake Swirl Brownies

Pinterest is like the greatest thing ever! It's been my major time-suck lately. But, it's also renewed my creative spirit when it comes to baking, cooking, organizing, and decorating my home. Most importantly, it's where I saw the recipe for Red Velvet Swirl Cheesecake Brownies! There are so many yummy parts of that recipe title - I don't even know where to start! I knew I had to make them right away - you know, to test them for you guys! I made a couple changes to the recipe (like repositioning the words in the title), but overall they were super easy to make. And having just scarfed down a giant bite of one, I can definitely say they are beyond divine!

Red Velvet Cheesecake Swirl Brownies

Ingredients

Red Velvet Layers

• 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I prefer Hershey's)
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp red food coloring
• 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 large eggs, blended
  
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

Cheesecake Layer

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/8 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Grease 8x8 baking dish, set aside
   
3. In medium mixing bowl, combine melted butter, sugar, and vanilla. Combine well.
4. Add cocoa powder, salt, red food coloring, and vinegar. Combine well.
5. Add blended eggs. Combine well.
6. Add flour and stir gently until well combined.
7. Pour 3/4 of the batter into prepared baking dish, reserve remaining 1/4 of batter, set aside.
8. In small mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Beat until creamy.
9. Spoon cream cheese mixture over red velvet mixture in prepared dish. Spread cream cheese mixture to create even layer.
10. Add reserved red velvet batter over cream cheese layer and spread.
11. Swirl through all three layers with a butter knife.
12. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
13. Cool completely, cut into squares, and refrigerate before serving.