Tuesday, September 1, 2009

TWD - Expresso Cheesecake Brownies


Wicked!!! No, I am not referring to the fabulous musical of the same name which I saw in Melbourne about the story behind the witches of Oz, but to this week's Tuesday with Dorie challenge, expresso cheesecake brownies. Our host this week is Melissa of Life in a Peanut Shell, who will forever after be known as a wizard in my house for choosing this delightful recipe.

These brownies are, as the name suggests, a cross between a brownie and a baked cheesecake. Aren't they pretty:


There is a sour cream topping which hides the gorgeous swirls in the finished product, and which I will probably skip in the future, because there will be a future for these brownies in my house. Oh yes - these are "wicked" because they taste so awfully good, but contain terribly evil ingredients like chocolate and sour cream. These brownies are so good that they have deposed my previous Dorie favourite, the Katharine Hepburn Tribute Brownies, from number one brownie spot. They are fudgy and smooth and rich - and did I mention pretty??

To check out how all the other TWD guys and gals went with these brownies, check out the TWD blogroll. And the recipe is of course in
Dorie's book, or at Melissa's site.

I would also like to take the opportunity to congratulate the very talented Emily of Visions of Sugar Plum, who has just won the US national Regal Springs Tilapia Chef Contest - Fishing for Frugal Recipes with her Tilapia Tostados. Congratulations Em!!!!
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40 comments:

  1. TammySeptember 1, 2009 at 7:20 AM

    your brownies look just perfect!

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  2. JenniferSeptember 1, 2009 at 8:22 AM

    YUM! Your brownies look awesome!!!!! Nicely done!

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  3. AnonymousSeptember 1, 2009 at 8:39 AM

    Your swirling job is fabulous! I'm glad you liked them!

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  4. Lorraine @ Not Quite NigellaSeptember 1, 2009 at 9:16 AM

    They look delicious! So what did you think of Wicked? It's my favourite musical ever! :)

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  5. Engineer BakerSeptember 1, 2009 at 10:37 AM

    Your favorite? Sounds like a winner indeed! Love the swirling.

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  6. steph- whisk/spoonSeptember 1, 2009 at 11:03 AM

    beautiful swirlies!! looks just great!

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  7. The Blonde DuckSeptember 1, 2009 at 11:04 AM

    Those look too pretty to eat!

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  8. PamelaSeptember 1, 2009 at 11:39 AM

    They look so pretty! I skipped the topping because (1) I was lazy and (2) I just didn't think it was needed! Nice job!

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  9. Jules SomeoneSeptember 1, 2009 at 11:41 AM

    Ooooh. Excellent swirls! No topping at my house.

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  10. veronSeptember 1, 2009 at 12:10 PM

    That sounds wickedly delicious... a brownie and cheesecake - how perfect can that be?

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  11. AmandaSeptember 1, 2009 at 1:12 PM

    Glad these worked out s well for you! They weren't really my favorite, but they were ok. :)

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  12. BrendaSeptember 1, 2009 at 1:19 PM

    Wicked indeed! They look great!!

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  13. UnknownSeptember 1, 2009 at 2:19 PM

    oh, G! It looks absolutely divine...i wanna be able to make this too...

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  14. nataliaSeptember 1, 2009 at 3:58 PM

    Beautiful !! I'll skip the glaze too ! But mine weren't fudgy..any clue ?

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  15. CakelawSeptember 1, 2009 at 8:43 PM

    Thanks Tammy :)

    Hi Jennifer, thanks.

    Hi Wendy, I did enjoy these - way too much for my own good ;)

    Hi Lorraine, I loved Wicked - it put a whole new perspective on the story of the witches, and made me think twice about judging behaviour.

    Thanks Caitlin.

    LOL - thanks Steph. The swirls were fun to make, yeah?

    Hi Duckie, if you could have chocolate, you'd love these.

    Hi Pamela, having been swayed to make the topping, I am with you - it is just not needed.

    Thanks Jules - no topping is required - better without in my view.

    Hi Veron, agreed - 2 fab desserts in one.

    Thanks Amanda - maybe the next one will be for you!

    Thanks Brenda :)

    Hi Rita, Melissa will have the recipe - go on, be a devil and make them :)

    Hi Natalia, two thoughts - maybe because I refrigerated mine and din't really unchill them before serving; or maybe because yours had a higher constituency of brownie (mine seemed to be largely cheesecake!).

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  16. HindySeptember 1, 2009 at 9:12 PM

    Wow! So that's what they're supposed to look like. You've had a great success. Mine didn't quite make the mark.

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  17. BabetteSeptember 1, 2009 at 11:02 PM

    Nice marbeling work!

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  18. spike.September 2, 2009 at 1:00 AM

    these are wicked good! I'm from new england and we use wicked all the time (as a good thing). love the swirls in your brownies

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  19. Soy*BabySeptember 2, 2009 at 1:48 AM

    So pretty. The swirls are wonderful.

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  20. CathySeptember 2, 2009 at 1:50 AM

    So glad you enjoyed these! I loved them too and will definitely make them again. I hope that next time I could get the pretty swirls that you did!

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  21. aforkfulofspaghettiSeptember 2, 2009 at 2:38 AM

    Gosh, they really are TOO wicked... Dare I? ;-)

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  22. SihanSeptember 2, 2009 at 3:24 AM

    the swirling is just amazing. pity you had to cover them with the sour cream topping. still delicious of course!

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  23. chocolatechicSeptember 2, 2009 at 6:25 AM

    Wicked is a great word for these.

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  24. Amber MarieSeptember 2, 2009 at 7:42 AM

    Glad you enjoyed them - top spot is quite a recommendation! :)

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  25. Madam ChowSeptember 2, 2009 at 10:22 AM

    Your swirls look good - I completely forgot to swirl them, but the topping hid it anyway. And I agree that the topping didn't add much!

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  26. KayteSeptember 2, 2009 at 11:05 AM

    My guys were wild about these, too, as they love chocolate, coffee, cheesecake, and sour cream! I couldn't get any swirls, my chocolate sank to the bottom and I tried to guess where it might be and swirl a bit, but nothing. So happy to hear that someone else loved the recipe.

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  27. isaSeptember 2, 2009 at 10:36 PM

    Your brownies are lovely - your swirls are perfect!
    I’m happy you enjoyed these! I loved them too and I didn’t made the sour cream layer.

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  28. RachelSeptember 3, 2009 at 12:21 AM

    Oh I'm so glad you enjoyed them!

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  29. CakelawSeptember 3, 2009 at 8:17 AM

    Hi Clivia, thanks :)

    Thanks Babette - felt artistic at the time.

    LOL Spike - I think it's a great turn of phrase.

    Thanks Kim.

    Hi Cathy, I'd absolutely make these again too - they were great.

    Thanks Ghetti - dare!!!

    Hi Sihan, I would leave it off next time - unnecessary and hides the swirls.

    LOL Tanya - yes!!

    Hi Amber Marie, I know, but it's how I felt at the time - I loved 'em.

    Hi Madam Chow, agreed - not sure why Dorie included it, but that's another great mystery of life ...

    Hi Kayte, glad the boys loved them.


    Thanks Isabelle, The sour cream layer was superfluous in my view - the brownie itself is a star.


    Thanks Rachel.

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  30. AnonymousSeptember 3, 2009 at 11:02 AM

    They are very very pretty indeed!! I am almost smell it.

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  31. Ms. PHSeptember 3, 2009 at 11:25 AM

    I liked the sour cream part best, but that's probably because I don't like cheesecake! I took a picture of the swirl top too because it was sooo pretty!

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  32. margotSeptember 3, 2009 at 1:51 PM

    Great swirls, they look perfect! Number one brownie is some effusive praise for these treats, I'm glad you liked them so much.

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  33. EmilySeptember 3, 2009 at 6:48 PM

    Wow! What a nice surprise! You are so sweet to mention me! You didn't have to do that. :)) I love it.

    These look soooo good. I'm all about these bars.

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  34. Lorraine @ Not Quite NigellaSeptember 3, 2009 at 9:49 PM

    I had the same reaction too! I loved Elphaba and could really relate to her but also a bit of Glinda too :)

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  35. CakelawSeptember 4, 2009 at 8:26 AM

    Thanks Ellie - I'd make these again in a heart beat.

    LOL Mrs PH - there's definitely something for everyone in these brownies.

    Thanks Margot. Because everyone is used to me bringing in baking, I am more likely to hear if I don't bring anything than if I do, and then it has to be a showstopper, LOL.

    Hi Em, a pleasure - you deserve recognition, because you have been working so hard for so long to achieve your dream, and are very talented.

    Hi Lorraine, I recognise them both in me as well at different phases of my life - I hope that I have finally achieved a happy balance between the two.

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  36. TeaLadySeptember 6, 2009 at 5:24 AM

    Those look fantastic. Love the swirl. Shame to cover it with topping.

    so I didn't.

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  37. jasmineSeptember 7, 2009 at 6:30 AM

    Oh My. they look delicious. Beautiful marbling work.

    j

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  38. George@CulinaryTravelsSeptember 8, 2009 at 11:47 AM

    They look and sound amazing. Great job.

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  39. JustinSeptember 10, 2009 at 12:14 PM

    i have a feeling i'd love these

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  40. CakelawSeptember 10, 2009 at 1:10 PM

    Hi Tealady, next time I'd leave it off.

    Thanks Jasmine :)

    Thanks Goerge!

    Hi Justin, You probably would - they were delish.

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