Hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving! I know my family and I did! There's just nothing better than being able to spend an entire day hanging out with family. Especially because we've been stupid busy lately (hence the lack of a menu last week). We had a very simple Thanksgiving dinner. I mean, VERY simple. We had turkey burgers seasoned with sage, thyme, rosemary, and other herbs you would find in stuffing, topped with a chipotle cranberry cheese. We also had french fries with gravy (if you've never been to MD, I suggest going just for the fries and gravy. Seriously. It's amazing.) and grilled green beans with onions and mushrooms (a grilled green bean casserole if you will). And for dessert, cheesecake. But not just any cheesecake, Cookie dough cheesecake with a brownie crust. I was inspired by Half Baked ice cream, the hubby's favorite. Every year I try to come up with a new wild and crazy cheesecake flavor but I really think this one tops them all. Horchata, red velvet, banana pudding, pink lemonade, etc. None of them can hold a candle to this cheesecake. So, because I just can't keep a dessert recipe to myself I decided to share the recipe I used with you! It's so easy you'll want to make it every week... or twice a week if you're like me and can eat an entire 9 inch cheesecake in one sitting ;)
I used 2 different recipes I found online to make this little piece of heaven and then altered it to be more... cookie-y... is that a word? Anyway, I started out with a brownie recipe that made enough for an 8x8 pan. You can use any brownie recipe you want. However, Betty Crocker makes a small brownie mix for that exact size. You're welcome. Make the brownie recipe per the instructions and bake it in a springform pan lined with parchment and greased. Then on to the cheesecake. I mixed the cream cheese with brown and white sugar, added the eggs, and added vanilla and butter extract. You can omit the butter flavor if you'd like but it will taste considerably less cookie-ish (that one has to be a word, right?) I forgot to add chocolate chips to my cheesecake before pouring it on top of the brownie crust so I had to try to mix it without scraping the crust up... Moral of the story, don't ever forget the chocolate chips. Then you bake the whole thing in the oven for about 45 mins! It really couldn't be easier. I mean really. *Drool*
Half-Baked Cheesecake
Ingredients:
Brownie Recipe or Brownie mix for 8x8 in pan
3 8oz Packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup super fine sugar (regular white sugar)
1 tbsp vanilla
1/2 tsp butter flavor
3 eggs
1/2 to 1 cup mini chocolate chips (I didn't measure so just put in whatever amount looks good to you)
You can serve this with whipped cream and chocolate sauce if you'd like but I think it's perfect just the way it is. Hope you all enjoy!
Ingredients:
Brownie Recipe or Brownie mix for 8x8 in pan
3 8oz Packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup super fine sugar (regular white sugar)
1 tbsp vanilla
1/2 tsp butter flavor
3 eggs
1/2 to 1 cup mini chocolate chips (I didn't measure so just put in whatever amount looks good to you)
- Preheat oven to 350° and cover the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan with parchment paper. Grease the sides of the springform pan.
- Make brownie recipe or brownie mix and pour into the prepared pan. Bake in the oven 10 mins less than the recipe calls for (the brownie mix called for 22 mins so I baked it for 12). Let the brownie cool in the pan while you prepare the cheesecake.
- Beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and butter flavor in the bowl of an electric mixer until well blended(you can use a stand mixer or handheld mixer. Both will work perfectly). Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed after each just until blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Pour over brownie crust and bake for 40 to 45 mins or until center is almost set. Run a knife around the rim of the pan to loosen cake. Refrigerate at least 4 hours. Make sure the cake is completely cool before removing rim.
You can serve this with whipped cream and chocolate sauce if you'd like but I think it's perfect just the way it is. Hope you all enjoy!