Are brownies one of your favorite desserts or snacks? I have always loved them, myself. Of all the chocolate desserts, to me the brownie takes the cake (pun fully intended). I like mine to be chewy, moist and delicious. The cake-type brownies leave me cold.

These pumpkin brownies with a cheesecake swirl are just out-of-this-world, and whoever thought of them deserves a medal for creativity in baking. The thought of a moist, pumpkin-spiced brownie, topped with a cream cheese layer that is swirled down into it just makes my taste buds start dancing in a conga line – there’s definitely a party going on!

 

INGREDIENTS

For the Brownies

6 tablespoons butter, melted

1 cup light brown sugar, packed

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 large eggs

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

¼ teaspoon ground allspice

¼ teaspoon ground ginger

 

For the Cream Cheese Swirl

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 egg

1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla

 

INSTRUCTIONS

Butter and flour an 11×7-inch baking pan. Heat oven to 350°F.

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 2 eggs until light and creamy. Beat in pumpkin puree.

In another bowl, combine 1 cup of flour with baking powder, soda, salt, and spices. Slowly beat into the first mixture until well blended. Spread in prepared baking pan.

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, 1 egg, confectioners’ sugar, ½ teaspoon vanilla, and 2 tablespoons flour. Beat for 1 to 2 minutes, until smooth and creamy. Spoon onto the pumpkin batter. Using a small narrow spatula or butter knife, swirl the cream cheese batter into the pumpkin batter.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

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Quick Tip:  Depending on the overall effect you want to get, you can experiment with different implements to create the swirls. Try a drinking straw for wider swirls and a toothpick for fine, delicate swirls. You can mix the different widths to create striking designs.

Recipe and image courtesy of Diana at The Spruce