Let’s Eat: Try a fun spin on brownies for the holidays (with video)

By Heidi Sutton

Put a smile on everyone’s faces with these layered cheesecake and fudgy brownie bakes. Get creative with green and white frosting and festive sprinkles — a fun spin on brownies for the holidays and perfect with a glass of milk!

Christmas Tree Cheesecake Brownies

Recipe by Jenn Fillenworth 

YIELD: Makes 16 servings

INGREDIENTS: 

For the Cheesecake batter

8 ounces low-fat cream cheese at room temperature

1/3 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

For the Brownie batter

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup milk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For decorating

green and white melting chocolate

assorted sprinkles

candy canes

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with non-stick baking spray and set aside.

For the cheesecake batter, place the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat at medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add the sugar and beat well. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and beat the mixture until blended.

For the brownie batter, add flour, cocoa and salt to a medium bowl and whisk until combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, oil, milk, eggs and vanilla until well combined. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until blended. Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan evenly.

Carefully pour the cheesecake batter over the top, spreading it evenly. Carefully swirl the layers together using the tip of a knife.

Bake for 30 minutes, until the brownies are set. Cool the brownies completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting into triangle pieces.

Decorate trees by placing green and white melted chocolate into a piping bag. Top with assorted sprinkles. Place a 3-inch piece of candy cane in the bottom of the brownie for the stump.