what you are going to learn:
- cheesecake, cookies and brownies work together
- how to mix up different kinds of recipes in one dessert
- it is easier to cut bars once they are cold
Peanut Butter Cheesecake Chocolate Cookie Brownies
Watch it:
Ever feel confident that a recipe is going to work before you give it a try? That’s how I felt when I made Peanut Butter Cheesecake Chocolate Cookie Brownies.
It’s a mouthful to say but there really wasn’t a way to shorten the name and still give you an accurate idea of what you are about to dive into.
I made my brownie base and poured it into an 8” x 8” baking pan. I had mini sandwich cookies in the house so I put a layer of them over the crust. I think next time I may use regular size cookies to accentuate this layer a bit more, but that is a personal preference. On top of the cookies, I spread a layer of peanut butter cheesecake.
After baking and cooling I refrigerated the pan overnight. If I had made them earlier in the day, I would have been able to cut them in time for dinner. Cutting the brownies into squares before drizzling chocolate ganache over the top of each bar insures that each brownie has a lovely swirl.
I took a few Peanut Butter Cheesecake Chocolate Cookie Brownies to a luncheon and was told that the cheesecake layer was so airy and light that it resembled more of a mousse. I loved one friend’s description that the Peanut Butter Cheesecake Chocolate Cookie Brownies are, “Pillows of peanut butter over a chewy brownie layer”.
When asked if anyone would change anything, I was, very quickly, told that I should not change a single thing. That’s what I call quite the compliment from a table of foodies.
Give Peanut Butter Cheesecake Chocolate Cookie Brownies a try and let me know what you think in the comment section below.
| Peanut Butter Cheesecake Chocolate Cookie Brownies | Print |
- Chocolate cookie brownie layer:
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 25 mini sandwich cookies or 16 regular size sandwich cookies
- Peanut butter cheesecake layer:
- 1 pound cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ plus 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter
- Chocolate topping:
- 2 ounces semisweet chocolate
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- For the chocolate cookie brownie layer
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line an 8" x 8" baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Melt the butter and chocolate in a microwave safe large bowl. Whisk to blend. Add the sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking constantly. Mix in the sugar. Add the flour, baking powder and salt.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared pan. Use an offset small spatula to spread the batter evenly into the pan. Evenly space the sandwich cookies over the chocolate brownie batter. Set aside.
- For the peanut butter cheesecake layer
- Place the cream cheese and sugar into a large mixing bowl. Beat until light and creamy, about 3 minutes, scraping the bowl down as needed. Add the eggs, one at a time followed by the vanilla. Blend in the peanut butter.
- Gently transfer the cheesecake batter over the cookies. Spread evenly without disturbing the cookies.
- Bake at 325°F for 40 minutes.
- Cool completely and refrigerate for several hours or overnight before cutting.
- Lift the parchment paper out of the pan and tranfser to a cutting board. Peel back the sides of the parchment paper. Cut into 16 brownies, wiping the knife clean in between cuts. It is easiest to cut across horizontally and then vertically.
- For the chocolate topping:
- Place the chocolate and cream into a small microwave safe bowl. Microwave just until partially melted. Stir until smooth. Cool for 10 minutes. Transfer the chocolate topping to a small plastic freezer quart size bag. Close the bag and cut a small piece off one of the bottom corners.
- Squeeze the chocolate topping over the brownies.
Many thanks to my friend and professional photographer Libby Volgyes for helping me improve my photography skills! Please check out Libby’s gorgeous site, Libby Vision.
