From Denny: These are from the Homespun Cafe in Atlanta, Georgia, published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
From the menu of . . . Homespun Cafe
2020 Howell Mill Road N.W., Atlanta, GA
404-352-4120
Q: I would love to have the recipe for the Cream Cheese Brownies at the Homespun Cafe. They are exceptional. - Susan Bowen, Atlanta
A: Neesha and Beena Nana bake a different kind of cake every day at this cheery little cafe owned by their father, Chhotu Nana, who came to Atlanta via Zimbabwe and India. While the double chocolate, strawberry, lemon and other cakes are served only one day a week, the Cream Cheese Brownies are so acclaimed that they have earned a permanent place on the menu.
Hands on time: 30 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Serves: 18
Ingredients:
For the cream cheese layer:
1 large egg
1/3 cup granulated sugar
5 1/3 tablespoons butter, melted
1/3 cup self-rising flour
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon almond extract
For the chocolate layer:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, divided
2 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate morsels
2 large eggs
1/3 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
2/3 cup self-rising flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
Grease bottom of a 13-by-9-inch baking pan and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
For the cream cheese layer: In a mixing bowl, combine egg, sugar and 5 1/3 tablespoons melted butter. Stir in flour, cream cheese and almond extract. Spread evenly in prepared pan.
For the chocolate layer: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt 1 stick butter. Cool slightly. Pour 5 1/2 tablespoons melted butter into a mixing bowl and leave remaining 2 1/2 tablespoons in saucepan. Add chocolate morsels to saucepan and return to low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate melts.
Into bowl containing melted butter, add eggs and granulated and brown sugars. Stir in flour and vanilla. Pour in melted chocolate/butter mixture and combine well. Spread evenly on top of cream cheese layer. Draw a knife through the pan to swirl batters.
Place in oven and bake 35 to 40 minutes or until tests done. Cool on wire rack before cutting into bars.
Notes from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
The Homespun Cafe bakes these extremely moist brownies in large quantities with the cream cheese layer on top. After cutting down the recipe for one pan and trying a couple of batches, our tester said the layers seem to stay together and the brownies cut better when the cream cheese layer is on the bottom.
Nutrition:
Per brownie: 335 calories (percent of calories from fat, 56), 4 grams protein, 37 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 21 grams fat, 72 milligrams cholesterol, 229 milligrams sodium.
brownies, cream cheese brownies
