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Espresso Cheesecake Brownies

Espresso cheesecake brownies make a decadent dessert that’s special enough for any occasion but simple enough for a Monday afternoon snack.

A few weeks ago I traveled to Phoenix to watch my Ducks in the Final Four. They lost, which was sad (but OK because hi, they made it to the FINAL FOUR) but you know what wasn’t sad?

I saw Phil Knight (I’m still freaking out here), black baseball cap and all, walking through my section before the game. I still have no idea what he was doing all the way up where I was sitting. I mean, he’s Phil Knight! He sat courtside for the game so what was he doing walking up all those stairs?

Lifelong Rabid Duck fan that I am, my heart immediately started racing and before I could stop myself, I’d shot out of my seat, whipped out my phone, and tapped him on the shoulder to ask for a selfie.

Can I just tell you it’s literally the first selfie I’ve ever taken of myself with another human? I’ve only ever taken them with my dog when she’s doing something cute. I’m not a selfie kind of girl. Nor am I the kind of girl who harasses celebrities. (Nor am I the kind of girl who ever sees celebrities outside the pages of People.)

So asking for a selfie with the guy who started the company that made every piece of workout gear that I own was out of character, to put it mildly. He couldn’t have been nicer and didn’t seem at all put out to pose with me. Probably because of the Duck shirt (with the Nike swoosh) I had on.

But what does any of this have to do with brownies? Not much. I’m just super proud to have that pic. And as it happens, on my drive to Phoenix from San Diego, I realized it’s been awhile since last I posted a brownie recipe. (Yep, tying it all together here.)

Don’t ask me what I was thinking because I couldn’t tell you. Clearly this was an egregious lapse on my part so to make it up to both of us I bring you these INSANE espresso cheesecake brownies.

Espresso cheesecake brownies. . .AKA heaven in bar cookie form.

Yes: brownies topped with cheesecake flavored with espresso. A brownie this good is life-changing. For real.

Side note: I will not be posting my selfie here because I look deranged in that photo and would prefer to enjoy my Charles Manson eyes in private. Let me offer you a brownie instead. . .it’s a Dorie recipe so you know it’s good.

Have a wonderful week!

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Espresso Cheesecake Brownies

Ingredients

    Brownies:
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into several pieces
  • 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder
    • Cheesecake:
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons espresso powder
  • 1 tablespoon boiling water
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Instructions

  1. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray, dust with flour, and tap out the excess; place the pan on a large baking sheet and set aside.
    2. Brownies:
  2. Place flour, baking powder, and salt in a small mixing bowl and whisk to combine.
  3. Place the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over simmering water. Stir until the butter and chocolate are just melted then remove from the heat. Allow to cool for a few minutes.
  4. Whisk sugar into chocolate mixture, then add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Whisk in the vanilla and espresso powder, then fold in the dry ingredients with a rubber spatula until the flour is just incorporated. Set aside.
    5. Cheesecake:
  5. Stir the espresso powder into the boiling water; allow to cool for a few minutes. Place the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium until very smooth. Add the sugar and beat for several minutes more. Beat in the vanilla and espresso mixture, then add the eggs 1 at a time, beating for 1 minute after each addition. Turn speed to low and add the sour cream and flour.
  6. Stir the brownie batter with a rubber spatula several times, then pour 3/4 of it into the prepared pan—you’ll have enough just to cover the bottom of the pan. Smooth the top. Pour the cheesecake mixture onto the brownie mixture in an even layer. Dot the cheesecake with the remaining brownie batter; use a knife to swirl the cheesecake and top brownie layer.
  7. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until the brownies pull away from the sides of the pan and the cheesecake layer is puffed up. Cool to room temperature on a wire rack then refrigerate for 2 hours, until completely chilled. Slice into bars and serve.
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Adapted (slightly) from Baking From My Home to Yours

Comments

  1. Haha! I love the description of these brownies. “heaven in bar cookie form” is definitely the perfect way to describe these. And your timing is impeccable, too. I mean it’s Monday morning, and an extra shot of espresso is always a good call…and it’s even better when it’s in cheesecake brownie form. I’ll be dreaming about this one all day long now. Thanks a lot! Also, too cool about the Phil Knight story. I don’t do many selfies either, but I do have a fun one with Bill Walton from the Final Four many years ago. (I won’t admit how many…) Hope you have a great Monday, my friend!

    • Thank you David! This is a Monday recipe for SURE! Sorry they’ll be taking up space in your brain today though. . .:). How cool that you have a pic with Bill Walton! As a Duck, am I even allowed to say that? Oh well! You have a great Monday too!

  2. Wowsaaaahs, what a cool experience! Isn’t it funny how your selfie skills happen to be not on point when you really, really want them to be?? It’s still really cool you have the photo, though…I’d say it’s frame-worthy regardless of your expression 😉

    These brownies look amaaaaazing! I’ve actually never tried making a brownie hybrid, and the combination of brownie + cheesecake sounds like an epic win to me. Maaaahvelous, m’dear!

    • Totally! I think I’ll start practicing my selfie skills just in case I ever meet another celeb. I’m going to make a print of this pic and put it on my desk (facing the wall so I don’t have to see) so I can enjoy it every day! Thank you Julia! Have a great week 🙂

  3. I love that you did that!! I always “feel bad” asking celebrities for pics (when I happen to see them!), but then regret it so much! And I also pretty much only take selfies with my dog 🙂 These brownies look AWESOME… I love that swirl!!

    Sues

    • I’ve always thought I’d be too afraid to ask for a selfie but something just took over and BAM! Selfie with a celeb, haha! Thank you Sues! Have a great week!

  4. I love your stories Kelsie, especially the manner in which you tell them. Sure, I will take the brownie if I cannot see that picture:) Espresso flavored sweet treats are always enjoyable. These brownie and cheesecake bars would not last a day in our house. Not even until noon?.

    • Thank you so much, Milena! Espresso is so perfect matched with sweet things isn’t it? They didn’t last much longer than that around here, haha :). Happy Monday!

  5. Clearly I live under a rock and have a lot of googling to do, because I have no clue who the Ducks are or who the celebrity you saw is. lol. Ummm I need to get out more, huh? Anyways, love these brownies! They are so pretty with the swirl! And espresso cheesecake flavor?! YES PLEASE! SO YUM! Cheers, girl!

    • Hahaha! You always crack me up, Chey :). The Ducks are the University of Oregon team, and my FAVORITE sports team EVER! Right? Cheesecake + espresso + BROWNIES = sooooo much deliciousness. Have a great week, dear!

  7. That’s so cool! I don’t know what I would ever do if I saw a celebrity – would I play it cool or ask for a pic? So cool that you got a selfie!! Definitely a memory right there!! Toronto and Montreal didn’t make it any further in hockey so that was a bummer! Oh well! Least we have this yummy recipe! These brownies look super good, Kelsie! Chocolate + espresso is heavenly and I would want to eat the entire batch myself. Bet that are so good straight from the oven. Have a great week!!

    • Thank you Dawn! Right out of the oven they are scary good :). So sorry about your teams though! It’s never fun to watch your team lose. Brownies do make up for some of the pain though. Have a great week!

  9. SO cool you got to meet Phil Knight! Almost as cool as these brownies 🙂 The combination of espresso and cheesecake sounds just about perfect, and add the fact that they’re brownies and I’m in heaven!!

    • Thank you Sara! It’s hard to go wrong with a brownie isn’t it? Gooey and chocolate-y and so, so good. . .it must be lunchtime ’cause now I’m so hungry! Happy Monday 🙂

  10. Oh my goodness, so fun that you got to meet Phil Knight! And these brownies are totally perfect for brightening up a Monday or any day! They look beyond incredible!

    • Thank you Kelly! They’re so good, they totally chase the Monday blues away. Have a great week!

    • Awwww thank you so much, Georgie! This is definitely my soul food–anything with chocolate and espresso is :). Have a great week!

  12. wow, you’re brave! i see minor celebrities and i chicken out and either don’t take a picture or only take one after a more determined friend stops them lol. anyways, these brownies sound deliciously coffee-y, and even better after you mentioned that it’s a dorie recipe (:

    • Dorie recipes really are the best, aren’t they? I still can’t believe I had the courage to approach him. It’s definitely not my thing either. Thank you Heather! Have a great week!

  13. What a fun story! I would probably just stare from a distance and not be as brave as you to ask for a picture! Anyway, I love everything about these cheesecake brownies! Mmmm the espresso and chocolate together sounds heavenly!

    • Usually I just stare from a distance too :). Espresso and chocolate just belong together all the time, I think. Thank you Marie! Have a great week!

    • Haha! Espresso and cheesecake (and chocolate) make a pretty winning combination! I’ll send a few your way. Happy Monday, Annie!

    • I don’t want to practice either–not my idea of a good time, haha :). But if I ever mean to take a selfie again I’ll need to work on it. Thank you Kim! Have a great week!

    • It was so much fun. I don’t get to watch them in person enough since I don’t live up there anymore. I think your stepson and I would be good friends. I’m on board with anything coffee, too! Happy Monday, Kelly!

  17. Oh Kelsie – you make me laugh. I’m imagining the deranged look in your selfie with Phil Knight. Ha ha. Good for you. You would have always regretted had you not gotten that shot, no matter how it turned out. So these brownies turned out FAB my friend, super job. I’ve had expresso powder in my pantry for like 6 months now – I got it at the King Arthur Flour store – and now I have something yummy to make. YAY. Thanks for the inspiration, and have a super week!! XO

    • I was so excited to meet him I plain forgot to make a normal face :). Use that espresso powder, Allie! It adds the best flavor to everyyyything! And if you don’t make these brownies you’ll regret it more than I’d regret the pic with Phil Knight. You have a wonderful week, too!

  18. So cool to see a celebrity Phil Knight and to get a selfie with him. The brownies are awesome too. I am sure that I could eat the whole pay, yum!

  19. Aw man, now I am feeling like I am really missing out. I don’t have any celebrity selfies and I am not sure I’d have the guts to ask either…. so I will fill the gaping hole in my soul with an extra one of these brownies. (and I am totally happy with that resolution!)

    • Don’t feel left out! I barely have this one–what good does it do to have a pic I can’t show anyone lest they decide I’m too scary to be friends with? Brownies can definitely fill that void for you though. Have a great week, Carlee!

  20. I love cheesecake brownies, actually i love pretty much anything that has cheesecake in the title. Wow I can’t believe you saw Phil Knight. Sorry the ducks lost 🙁

    • Awww thank you Mary! It was so exciting that it doesn’t even feel like they lost, really :). I’m totally into all things cheesecake, too.

  21. I totally would have snagged a pic with Phil Knight too!!! That’s my kind of celebrity. I would have also asked for free shoes. 😉

    LOVE these brownies too. Monday brownies are always a win in my book.

  22. Haha I love this story! It is so cute but I have no idea who this fellow is. I never thought myself to be the kind o girl to ask celebrities for photos either until I met Rebel Wilson and Rachel Khoo and I fan girled so hard it was embarrassing. I love what you have made here. You had me at chocolate and espresso but adding cheesecake into the mix?! So fab!

    • WHOA! You met Rebel Wilson? I’d freak out too! I never thought I’d be a person to go crazy over celebrities but hey, I guess it’s not uncommon :). Thank you Ruby! Cheesecake makes chocolate EVEN BETTER!

  23. Ah…you made it happen with these brownies Kelsie. Though a cheesecake sounds divine with its creamy dreamy texture, an espresso brownie swirled into it takes it to whole new level and it is the perfect post for Monday. I can totally use some additional caffeine for the week!!!!

    • Thank you so much Maria! Caffeinated desserts are always a win. Especially on a Monday 🙂

  24. Kelsie – these do sound heavenly! We are in a cheesecake mood in my house lately, so I may have to give them a whirl! Thanks for the recipe! This was my team’s Final 4 year, too! It was exciting, wasn’t it?

    • Cheesecake whirls are the best whirls of all! YES! It was so exciting! I honestly didn’t even care when they lost because it was so much fun just being there. Thank you Laura!

    • Thank you, Lorraine! I would have been devastated if he were unfriendly! I’m so glad he was as sweet as can be 🙂

  27. I’m highly disappointed you didn’t post the Phil Knight selfie but then you made up for it with this fantastically awesome brownie recipe, so I forgive you. Still…I’d like to see that selfie and your crazy eyes 😉 I have a girlfriend coming over for dinner tonight and don’t have dessert planned yet so may have to make these brownies. And I can have leftovers for breakfast tomorrow! Yay me!

    • Hahaha! I just couldn’t bring myself to put that pic out there for all the world to see. These brownies are PERFECT for dessert tonight–and I’m jealous you’ll get to have them for breakfast, too. Mine are all gone :(. Enjoy an extra one for me, Karrie!

    • Exactly! I do not need pics of just me floating around out there–better to have my cute little puppy in there too. Espresso adds so much to everything doesn’t it? LOVE the stuff :). Have a great day, Lindsay!

  29. What a fun story! Really neat experience. And what a recipe, too. Love cheesecake. Love brownies. Put them together? Heaven!

    • Thank you so much! Total heaven. You just can’t beat cheesecake and chocolate together 🙂

  30. Well, at least you take these occasional selfies with the dog and now the celebrity. Lately, I’ve been taking a few while shooting my food (still only once in a while). Kind of preview of the upcoming events. Completely weird, I know. But these brownies ain’t weird at all – absolutely scrumptious combo!

    • Nothing weird about food previews, Ben! Sometimes selfies are the only way I can even get pics of my dog because she’s so wiggly I usually have to hold her still :). Thank you! Happy Wednesday!

  31. I love that your instincts took over and you got that photo! You’ll have it forever and that’s so cool! I’m also glad that you made these brownies because they cover 3 of my favorite things on the planet!

    • It was definitely pure instinct. If I’d given it any thought at all I never would have had the courage! Thank you Marcie! They’re three of my favorites two 🙂

  33. very cool! i often wonder how often i see famous people but don’t realize it because they look different in real life. probably not too often. 🙂
    i love the look of these brownies and i’m sure they taste amazing!

    • Haha! I never recognize celebrities–this was a first! Thank you Grace! Have a great weekend!

    • Oh, I’m sorry yours didn’t turn out as well! I hope the second try turns out better 🙂

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