When my European in laws came to visit from Singapore, I did the most American thing possible. I made brownies. Growing up, my mother was always making brownies. It was a way to welcome someone to our home with something sweet. I worried that my jet lagged house guests might have trouble adjusting to the time zone, and need snacks. I am also a firm believer that you should always have food ready for houseguests. I made Mascarpone Cheesecake Brownies to satisfy a sweet tooth, and caprese guacamole so that something savory would also be on hand.
I will admit that these brownies aren't entirely homemade. I used a mix, and it saved me lots of time (which I needed since I also had to clean my home in preparation for the houseguests). While I used a mix, I made my own cheesecake filling. The layer of mascarpone cheesecake in the center of these brownies takes them from ordinary to incredible, and my difficult to impress in laws couldn't stop raving about them. Mission accomplished.
Ingredients
- 1 box of Brownie Mix
- plus the ingredients called for on the box
- ½ cup Mascarpone
- ½ cup Cream Cheese
- 1 Egg
- 1 tablespoon Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat your oven, and prepare the brownie mix according to the directions on the box.
- Combine the mascarpone, cream cheese, egg, sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer. Mix on a medium speed for one minute, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl if necessary.
- Pour half of the brownie mix into a baking dish. Spread it out evenly.
- Pour the cheesecake filling over, spreading it out evenly.
- Add the remaining brownie mix over.
- Use a knife to swirl the brownie and cheesecake together.
- Bake according to the direction on the box. My brownies cooked in an 8x8 pan in the time listed on the box.
- Let cool before cutting.
