Wonderland Kitchen: Cheesecake Nutella Brownies

This recipe came from the lovely Red Vines for Breakfast (Check her out! She has all sorts of great recipe posts!). The original recipe (here) was for Cheesecake Brownies, but Valerie added the Nutella, which makes them THAT much better! They are a definite indulgent dessert, with all the goodness of both a brownie and cheesecake, with those delicious gooey center spots spread throughout them!

Here is the recipe as found on the original website. You can also replace the first section of ingredients with a box-brownie mix to save time. I also used a 9x13 in glass baking dish, which worked fine as well.

One 9-inch (23cm) square pan

6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
4 ounces (115g) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
2/3 cup (130g) sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup (70g) flour
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup (80g) chocolate chips

8 ounces (200g) cream cheese, at room temperature
1 large egg yolk
5 tablespoons (75g) sugar
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional: Several tablespoons of Nutella

Directions

1. Line a 9-inch (23cm) square pan with foil, making sure it goes up all four sides. Use two sheets if necessary. Mist with non-stick spray or grease lightly. (I didn't use the foil, but I think this might make it much easier if you're planning on cutting the brownies out to serve on a platter)

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (180C).

3. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and chocolate over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and beat in the 2/3 cup (130g) sugar, then the eggs.

4. Mix in the flour, cocoa powder and salt, then the vanilla and chocolate chips. Spread evenly in the prepared pan.

5. In a separate bowl, beat together the cream cheese, the yolk, 5 tablespoons (75g) of sugar, and vanilla until smooth.

6. Distribute the cream cheese mixture in eight dollops across the top of the brownie mixture, then take a dull knife or spatula and swirl the cream cheese mixture with the chocolate batter. (Before swirling the mixture, I just drizzled a few spoonfuls of Nutella and then swirled)