Thursday, March 20, 2008

Rich Chocolate Cream Cheese Brownies (Gluten Free)





I know you love brownies. Everybody loves brownies.

Okay, maybe not everybody. Not my weird sister, who does NOT like chocolate, and therefore does not like brownies. I still don't know where she came from. I really think she was an alien baby. Don't tell her though... it might hurt her feelings... of course, she's also the skinniest person in my family... maybe that weird "no chocolate" thing has something to do with it! Oh well... I still love you Lee.





Here's my wierd "no-chocolate" sis when she was about 5 I think...
Is she cute or what?


On to the more important subject of brownies (sorry sis!)...

These brownies will knock your socks off! They'll knock the hubbie's socks off too! They are easy, simple, super "chocolate-y", and utterly delicious. If you haven't used that wonderful
wonderful gluten free master baking mix I posted a couple of months ago, you really need too. That mix is seriously a lifesaver.

Yes, it saved my life.

I was dying for a brownie last night. Because there are nights when you are just dying for a rich, "chocolate-y", bad-for-you brownie. Admit it. You have those nights too. Except my sister. Weirdo.





The magic of these brownies is that you can make plain ol' chocolate brownies with the batter or you can add 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts, you can add butterscotch chips... the possibilities are endless! Have fun with them! Brownies are meant to be fun!

I've posted 2 recipes below. The first is the basic chocolate brownie recipe, which you should print immediately and keep in a safe place! You'll need these brownies for those late night cravings!

The second recipe is for the cream cheese version of these brownies. Either way, you must make these brownies! (Because they are my personal favorite!) And as always, please share with me what you think in the comments!


Rich Chocolate Brownies

4 Tbsp. butter (or reduced fat margarine)
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup Gluten Free Master Baking Mix
1 tsp. instant coffee
1/4 cup baking cocoa

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9" square baking pan with parchment paper, or lightly spritz pan with non-stick cooking spray. In a small mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time until thoroughly incorporated. Add vanilla. In a medium bowl, whisk together baking mix, instant coffee, and baking cocoa. Add dry mixture slowly to egg mixture. Mix thoroughly. Pour batter into prepared 9" square baking pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean). Cool for 10 minutes. Slice and serve! Yum! Makes 9 large brownies.



Rich Chocolate Cream Cheese Brownies

1 recipe Rich Chocolate Brownies
1 (8 oz.) pkg. reduced fat cream-cheese, softened
1 egg white
1/4 cup sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line a 9" square baking pan with parchment paper, or lightly spritz pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Prepare batter for Rich Chocolate Brownies as directed in above recipe and pour into prepared baking pan. In a small bowl mix softened cream cheese, egg white, and sugar, until smooth and creamy. Drop by tablespoons over the brownie batter. Swirl cream cheese through batter by taking a clean, very sharp knife and cutting it through the batter. Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before serving (if you can wait that long!). These brownies are equally good after being refrigerated, or straight from the oven! (My husband prefers them after they have been refrigerated.)




For a printer friendly version of both recipes and a copy of the GF Master Baking Mix, click here.



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