1/4 cup butter, cubed
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg, room temperature
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
CHEESECAKE LAYER:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled
2 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
GANACHE:
1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 13x9-in. pan with foil, letting ends extend up sides; grease foil. In a microwave, melt butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Stir in sugar, cocoa and vanilla. Add egg; blend well. Add flour, baking powder and salt; stir just until combined. Spread into a thin layer into prepared pan. Bake until top appears dry, 6 to 8 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Beat in cooled chocolate chips. Add beaten eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Spread over brownie layer. Bake until filling is set, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on a wire rack.
3. For ganache, place chocolate chips in a small bowl. In a saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; let stand 5 minutes. Stir with a whisk until smooth. Stir in vanilla; cool slightly, stirring occasionally. Pour over cheesecake layer; cool in pan on a wire rack 1 hour. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Lifting with foil, remove brownies from pan. Cut into bars.
Prize Winning Recipe
What could be better than a brownie crust layered with chocolate cheesecake and topped with chocolate ganache? These cheesecake bars will satisfy even the biggest chocolate lovers out there.
TOTAL TIME: Prep: 35 min. Bake: 25 min. + chilling
YIELD: 2-1/2 dozen.
Nutrition Facts
1 bar: 180 calories, 13g fat (7g saturated fat), 42mg cholesterol, 81mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.