Recipe: Oreo Cream Cheese Brownies

Oreos and cream cheese are two of my favorite things, so when I came across this recipe, I knew I had to make them for myself! You do need to build in at least 4 hours for the brownies to set, but otherwise they are super easy to make and are sinfully delicious. The photos just don't do them justice!

Oreo Cream Cheese Brownies

adapted from Averie Cooks

makes about 12 bars

for the brownies...

• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 6 ounces dark or bittersweet chocolate, chopped 
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon instant espresso granules to enhance chocolate flavor
• a pinch of salt
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 15 Oreos, sliced in to 4-6 pieces each

1. Preheat your oven to 350 F. Line an 8-inch square pan with aluminum foil, letting some hang over the sides, and spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. In a large microwave-safe bowl, add the butter and chocolate and heat on high power in 30 second intervals, stirring in between each, for about 2 minutes until melted. Allow the mixture to cool for a minute before adding the eggs so they don't scramble.
3. Add the eggs, sugar, vanilla, espresso granules, and salt and whisk vigorously to combine.
4. Add the flour, most of the diced Oreos (saving a small handful to be sprinkled on top) and stir until smooth and combined without overmixing.
5. Put half the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula as necessary so there are no holes. Set aside while you make the cream cheese filling.

for the cream cheese layer...

• 8 ounces of cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract until nice and smooth.
2. Smooth the cream cheese over the brownie layer, adding it in little dollops so you can cover the entire pan all the way to the edges.
3. Cover the cream cheese with the remaining brownie batter, making sure all of the cream cheese is covered. 
4. Sprinkle the reserved Oreo crumbles over the top.
5. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the cream cheese center is set. 
6. Allow the brownies to cool inside the pan on top of a wire rack for 2 hours, and then cover and cool in the fridge for at least 2 hours (or overnight.)
7. When cool, lift brownies out of the pan with the foil overhang and slice into squares.
8. Keep refrigerated in an airtight container when not devouring!