It looks simple.  In theory, it should be easy.  Martha can do it in her sleep.  Deb makes it look like a piece of cake.  But I’ll be the first to admit that swirling two different batters together to achieve a perfect marbled effect isn’t as easy as it seems.  I’ve ventured into marbling a couple times and it’s always ended in a muddled mess.  The picture-perfect swirls of different flavors and textures were simply not my destiny.

Not one to surrender to failure (especially not when it involves chocolate and/or cheesecake!), I decided to give marbling another whirl … literally.  Due to what I can only assume was constant whining about the lack of brownie pans in my kitchen, my boyfriend got me a Baker’s Edge pan for Christmas.  I had been reading about the fantastic results that this pan produces from Nicole at Baking Bites for awhile, so I was fairly giddy about trying it out.  It is essentially a 9 x 13 baking pan that has internal “walls” that create edges throughout the dish.  This is supposed to help with even cooking and ensures lots of edges to brownies, cookie bars, and even lasagna!

Now, for someone who is already challenged when it comes to achieving a recognizable marbling effect, it probably wasn’t the best idea to attempt this with a pan that boasts a two-inch wide snake of swirling room.  Logic and obvious obstacles aside, I proceeded to tackle marbling yet again.   I always like to try the recipes that come with baking pans or kitchen appliances.  I have a probably mistaken belief that these recipes must be tried and true for them to be included in the packaging by the manufacturer.

Both the brownie batter and the cheesecake batter had a bit too much flour in them for me, but the results were still delicious.  Unfortunately, the batters were very thick, which did not lend themselves to being swirled together.  The resulting brownies weren’t quite the picture of swirly goodness I had hoped for, in fact, they were basically brownies topped with a layer of cheesecake, but they were delightfully fudgy nonetheless.  Frankly, they were so yummy that not one person turned them down because of the lack of swirling.

Marbled Cheesecake Brownies
Adapted from the Baker’s Edge
Brownie Base Ingredients
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
12 TBLS unsalted butter, room temperature
10 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
Cheesecake Topping Ingredients
6 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
4 TBL unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 egg yolks
1/4 cup all purpose flour

Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9×13 pan (or a Baker’s Edge pan) with non-stick cooking spray.
- Make the brownie base first. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl.
- In a medium bowl, sitting over a simmering pot of water (double boiler method) melt the butter and chocolate, stirring until melted. Remove from heat and stir in sugar.
- Stir in one egg at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
- Finally, stir in the flour mixture.
- To make the cheesecake filling, combine the cream cheese and butter in a small bowl until smooth and creamy. Stir in the sugar and vanilla extract.
- Stir in egg yolks, one at a time.
- Add the flour and stir to combine.
- Pour the brownie base into the prepared pan. Pour the cheesecake filling on top of the brownie base. Using a non-stick safe utensil, swirl the cheesecake into the brownie base making sure not to over mix.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the brownies comes out clean. Let the brownies cool completely in the pan before removing.

Similar Recipes:

• Rocky Road Brownies
• Tribute-to-Katharine-Hepburn Brownie Bites
• Chocolate Raspberry Brownie Cake
• Key Lime Cheesecake

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