Cranberry Sauce Cheesecake Brownies #ChristmasWeek

Welcome to Christmas Week, a multi-blogger event co-hosted by Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic and Jen of Juanita’s Cocina. Each day we will be celebrating a new holiday baking theme where each blogger makes a dish they love. We hope you enjoy this fabulous event. Tune in each day starting Monday December 3rd and ending Friday December 6th.

Happy Monday to you all! I just got back from a cross-country trip to Mixed where I learned how to decorate cookies courtesy of Marion, played with fondant for the very first time with Duff along with so many other helpful workshops. It was such a blast, but I am also incredibly thrilled to be back home.

Yes, I get homesick after a 4-day trip because in the end, nothing beats curling up on your own bed and staying in 70+ degree weather. Apparently the east coast warmed up a bit last weekend but it was still unbearably chilly for me.

Now let’s talk brownies. I’m actually not the biggest chocolate fan in the world but if you add in a layer of cheesecake (my ultimate weakness) on top of a brownie, I become a chocolate fanatic. These brownies had just the right amount of sweetness in them and that leftover cranberry sauce that got swirled in these babies gave them such a refreshing touch. I didn’t want to be tempted to eat the whole batch so I immediately devoured one and brought the rest over to Jason’s family.

Yeah, I don’t have much self-control.

Today’s theme for Christmas Week is “Cookies and Bars”. Be sure to visit all the participating bloggers today to see what special dish they whipped up for you!

• Mice Cookies from Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic
• Biscoff Blossoms from Jen of Juanita’s Cocina
• Double Chocolate Thumbprints from Liz of That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Cookie Sticks from Anuradha of Baker Street
• Snickerdoodles Snowballs from Kristen of Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker
• Cranberry Pistachio Christmas Biscotti from Isabelle of Crumb
• Mint Chocolate Pudding Cookies from Erin of Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
• Hot Cocoa Blossoms from Erin of Spiffy Cookie
• Jam Thumbprints from Ramona of Curry and Comfort
• Fudgy Cathedral Cookies from Heather of Girlichef
• Cherry White Chocolate Chunk Cookies from Cathy of A Dutch Baker’s Daughter

Also, don’t forget to enter my giveaway! The 5 winners of the case of Yoplait Greek 100 will be picked on Thursday, December 6th, and announced Friday.

One year ago: Orange Marmalade Muffins

Cranberry Sauce Cheesecake Brownies (adapted from Not Your Mama’s Cookie):

Yields 9 brownies

INGREDIENTS:

• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

For the cheesecake filling:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup leftover cranberry sauce

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat an 8x8 baking dish with nonstick spray; then line baking dish with parchment paper.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese, egg yolk, sugar and vanilla until smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes; set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, sugar and salt.

Microwave butter and chocolate chips in a large bowl in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until completely melted and smooth, about 1-2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla, whisking until well combined. Add flour mixture, stirring just until incorporated. 

Spread the brownie batter into prepared baking dish. Then spread the cheesecake mixture evenly over the bottom brownie layer. Top with cranberry sauce, swirling into the batter using figure eight motions.

Place into oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until set.

Let cool completely before cutting into bars.

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