30 Comments
RSS feed for comments on this post.
:: Trackbacks/Pingbacks ::
No Trackbacks/Pingbacks
11 Oct
Brownie Mosaic Cheesecake
Posted by Chelle as Brownies & Bars, Cheesecake, Chocolate
Behold, a gorgeous four-part cheesecake in all of its glory:
Oreo crumb crust.
Creamy cheesecake.
Fudgy brownies.
Chocolate ganache glaze.
WOW. Now, many of you know I am a self-professed Queen of Cheesecake. No, I’m not tooting my own horn about how fabulous my own cheesecakes always turn out, but cheesecake is by far my very favorite dessert. I’ll eat it before anything else laid in front of me. And so when I saw this cheesecake featured on Smitten Kitchen, there was no turning back. I had to make it. Immediately. And with no good reason whatsoever other than I wanted it. No company, no dinner party, no celebration. Just because it looked THAT good.
Although the cheesecake is comprised of four components, it wasn’t complicated at all to put together, so please don’t be intimidated! The recipe for one bowl brownies is ridiculously quick and can be thrown together in less than 15 minutes. You can make the brownies a day ahead and pop them into the fridge - they are easier to slice through when cold anyway!
We need to talk about the crust. Deb is a genius. DOUBLE THE CRUST! Doh! ::smacks self on forehead:: For someone who is ALL about the crust (be it cheesecakes, pies, pizza, anything that has crust), it never occurred to me to just go ahead and double the crust recipe. Simply brilliant, for sure. The original recipe calls for either chocolate wafer cookies or Teddy Grahams to use for the crust, but I used Oreos because, well, I just adore them. Oreo cheesecake is by far my favorite variety, so if I’m not going to have Oreos IN my cheesecake, I’ll definitely settle for them being my crust!
The cheesecake itself has the perfect texture - wonderfully creamy and melts in your mouth. Pair that with the double crust, a bite of fudgy brownie in every other forkful and a layer of rich, bittersweet chocolate ganache and really - cheesecake (or life, for that matter) does not get much better than that.
One year ago: Hearty Beef Stew with Sweet Dinner Rolls
Brownie Mosaic Cheesecake
(Adapted from Smitten Kitchen)Equipment used:
9×13 glass baking dish
Food processor
Stand mixer
10″ Springform Pan
Sheet Pan
Part One: Brownies4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter
1¾ cups sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup flourPreheat oven to 350°F. Line 13×9-inch baking pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of pan. Grease foil.
Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in sugar. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Add flour and salt; mix well. Spread into prepared pan.
Bake 30 to 35 minute or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with fudgy crumbs. (Do not overbake.) Cool in pan on wire rack. Remove brownies from pan, using foil handles.
Cool brownies, then cut them into 3/4- to 1-inch squares for use in the cheesecake (I used a pizza cutter, per Deb’s recommendation). You will have more than the two cups of cubes, loosely measured, than you will need, and I’m sorry, you’re just going to have to decide for yourself what to do with the extra. Add cubes to cake batter as directed below.
Part Two: Crumb Crust1½ cups or 5 ounces (3 cups or 10 ounces to double) finely ground Oreos, or other chocolate cookie
5 tablespoons (10 tablespoons to double) unsalted butter, melted
1/3 cup (2/3 cup to double) granulated sugar
1/8 teaspooon (¼ teaspoon to double) saltStir together ingredients and press into bottom and 1 inch up side of a buttered 10″ springform pan. Fill right away or chill for up to 2 hours.
Part Three: Cheesecake3 (8-oz) packages of cream cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanillaMake crumb crust as directed above for 10-inch cheesecake. Preheat oven to 350°F.
Beat together cream cheese and sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, then vanilla, beating on low speed until each ingredient is incorporated and scraping down bowl between additions.
Fold brownie cubes in very gently and pour mixture into prepared pan. Put springform pan with crust in a shallow baking pan. Pour filling into crust and bake in baking pan (to catch drips) in middle of oven 45 minutes, or until cake is set 3 inches from edge but center is still slightly wobbly when pan is gently shaken.
When completely cool, top with following glaze.
Part Four: Ganache Glaze3 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter
¼ cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon powdered sugarPlace finely chopped chocolate in a medium size mixing bowl. Scald the butter and cream together in a saucepan (or in the microwave on HIGH for 1 minute). Pour the cream mixture over the chocolate and stir until the chocolate is completely melted. Whisk in vanilla and then whisk in powdered sugar until smooth. Spread over cheesecake while ganache is still warm. Chill until ready to serve.
Wow, hellllllo beautiful!! This looks absolutely amazing. I am definitely going to have to give this a try.
I saw that on Smitten Kitchen, and another blog recently made it as well. I can’t wait to try it, it looks AMAZING! Cheesecake is awesome, and with all the additions, well - just over the top!!
Wow! brownies inside of a cheesecake! its like a dream! kinda reminds me of a blizzard but better!!!!!
I made this about a month ago, and I agree that it’s the best cheesecake ever. I have never been a big cheesecake fan, but this cheesecake is a totally different story. It’s my husband’s favorite as well, so it was a huge hit for us!
oh.my.gosh. this looks incredible chelle! i’m actually having a hard time coming up with words here. i’m totally on my way over to help you eat this
I’m definetly making this, it’s already bookmarked!
wow!! i think i also saw this on erin’s blog?? it looks fabulous. what’s not to love?
I share your love for cheesecake. I just made the Brown Sugar Apple Cheesecake (TWD) that I found on your site…and yum! This looks just as divine and I can’t wait to make it! Thanks!
Goodness gracious… I must have this NOW!!!!! Looks amazing!
Oh my. I am trying to eat better, less sweets and such, and this is just calling to me…… Oh such a test of my willpower!
Looks delicious! So want to try this now.
Wow, this looks fantastic. I already have a great cheesecake with cookie crust recipe that I found this past summer. I can’t even imagine how amazing it’ll taste with brownies and chocolate glaze. I’ll definitely be making this!
One of my coworkers asked me to make an oreo cheesecake for her birthday…but maybe I’ll try this instead.
Looks just as yummy as I know it was
Great pick, I and my friends all thank you for it!
this is the ultimate chocolate dessert! brownies + oreos + cheesecake = the winning combination! YUM!
That looks so freaking good! I could never make it just to have around the house, though, because my willpower is zero and I would eat way too much! I like bringing desserts to other peoples houses, so I can enjoy some and leave the leftovers there
Cheesecake combined with chocolate! Well does it get much better than that?
WOW!! Looks like every girl’s DREAM! mmm…..
I’m not fond of chocolate but for some reason I keep coming back to your photos especially that first one. Your cheesecake looks just SO GOOD!
~ingrid
Yummy!!!! Looks delicious and love how detailed the photos are. May I add the recipe to http://www.cheesecake-recipes.org
Oh! My! Gosh! That looks absolutely divine - the upclose shots are incredible, thank you so much for sharing.
Never met a cheesecake I didn’t like! The texture on this is superb.
Blessings,
RH
(The photos look so good, we should all be able to reach out and grab that fork…yum!)
Your brownies look amazing… What a cool idea for brownies… I am a member of a social networks site… recipebuddys.com and we recieved a post on Brownies and wanted to hear you opinions of it …I stumpled upon your post…and thought you would be a good sounding board.. we have a bake sale coming up…and want it to turn out good for our daughter… please advise…thanks
This is a DEFINITE.
AHHHHH I love cooking and i’m so inspired.
This looks sooo delicious!
I only have one word to describe this cheesecake — WOWIE!!! I have GOT to try this. Fantastic!
So much goodness! All in one slice! What a gorgeous gorgeous overload!
mmmm, you have the same very basic, very five star cheesecake recipe that I use: cream cheese, eggs, vanilla, and sugar. It is the foundation for what looks like an amazing variation on a luscious theme. I will be giving this a try! slurp!
Made this today, took it to a family members house and got rave reviews. Thank you for the wonderful recipe!
Cheese cakes are the best….
Yummmmmmmmmmmm! I saw this cheesecake on Smitten Kitchen a long time ago and said one day I’ll make it. Thanks for reminding me. It looks so good. I’m all about the crust too.