Monday, 10 September 2012

Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies



Brownie ingredients:
200g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
200g unsalted butter
250g icing sugar
3 eggs
110g plain flour

Cheesecake ingredients:
400g cream cheese
150g icing sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs

Cream topping
300 ml whipping cream
100g icing sugar
150g raspberries, plus extra to decorate
33 x 23 x 5-cm baking tray, lined with greaseproof paper

For the brownie:
Preheat the oven to 170°C.
Put the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water.  Leave until melted and smooth.
Put the butter and sugar in a mixer with a paddle attachment and beat until all the ingredients are well incorporated.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well.
Gradually beat in the flour, mixing well after each addition, then turn the mixer up to high speed and beat for a little longer until you get a smooth mixture.
Slowly pour in the melted chocolate and mix thoroughly. Pour into the prepared baking tray and smooth over with a palette knife.

For the cheesecake:
Put the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract in a mixer with a paddle attachment and beat on slow speed until smooth and thick. Add one egg at a time, while still mixing. The mixture should be very smooth and creamy.
The mixer can be turned up to a higher speed at the end to make the mix a little lighter and fluffier, but be careful not to overmix, otherwise the cheese will split. Spoon on top of the brownie and smooth over with a palette knife.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30–40 minutes, or until the cheesecake is firm to the touch and light golden around the edges. The centre should still be pale. Leave to cool completely, then cover and refrigerate for 2 hours, or overnight if possible.

For the cream topping:
Put the cream, sugar and raspberries in a freestanding electric mixer with a whisk attachment and beat until firm but not stiff.
Turn the brownie out onto a board and turn the right way up.
Spread the topping evenly over the brownie and decorate with more raspberries.