“Feel Better” Fudgy Cream Cheese Brownies

Fact: Every day can’t be blissful.

It’s just impossible. We all have rough times and down moments. Sometimes there’s a recognizable reason, but some days are just blue. Today is one of those days where I’d like to just go back to bed and just start again tomorrow. It can be difficult to snap out of a funk. I’ve learned that sometimes, you have to make your own bright side. And that can mean a million different things.

My go-to cure for a bad day is to get outside. Hiking under the majestic pines helps me regain perspective of the big picture. Breathe fresh air. Out with the bad- in with the good.

On some days, it helps to allow yourself happy indulgences. Fresh flowers. A glass of wine. A hot bubble bath. Ice cream in bed with a good book. (That happened.)

I pretend I’m tough, but when I drop that façade and allow people to care about me, I feel so much better. Love on someone- and let yourself be loved back.

Find something- anything– that makes you happy and SOAK IT IN.

And if all else fails, make these brownies.

Talk about indulgence. They’re extra fudgy with a thick swirl of decadent sweet cream cheese. The worst day can’t be that bad when there’s chocolate involved, right?

Let’s start there- with the chocolate. And BUTTER. Melt the two together on the stove until they are best friends, and then pour it into a bowl.

Add some sugar and give it a whirl with the mixer. Toss in a couple of eggs and mix it up until it’s smooth and perfect.

Add a little flour, more chocolate (cocoa powder), and a pinch of salt. Then, some vanilla and- why not? – MORE CHOCOLATE.

The amazingness is spread into a pan (lined with foil and greased). I guess you could stop right there, but feel-better brownies need cream cheese!

In a new bowl, beat cream cheese, an egg yolk, sugar, and a teensy bit of vanilla together until it’s fluffy and smooth. Drop big spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture right onto the chocolate brownie layer.

With a knife, swirl the cream cheese into the brownie layer. Be sure there’s a little bit of both in every part of the pan!

The brownies bake for at least 35 minutes. This is a good time to clean up. (And by “clean up,” I mean lick the bowls. And the beaters. And the knife.)

When the brownies are set in the center, let them cool completely. Then, pull them out of the pan carefully by the foil, and remove the foil before you cut them into very large pieces. These are feel-better brownies, after all.

Some people like the corner pieces- the crunchy crust on two sides.

Some people call dibs on the middle piece- the gooiest piece of all. Which is your favorite?

Regardless of which piece you choose, these brownies are naughty (in a good way). They’re over-the-top rich and creamy and chocolate-y. Whether it was bad or not, your day is about to get a whole lot better…at least while you’ve got a bite of a fudgy cream cheese brownie in your mouth.

A hike never tasted this good.

What’s your go-to feel-good recipe? Share with me!

Feel Better Fudgy Cream Cheese Brownies (Beurrista blog)

For the brownie layer, you’ll need:

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 4 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
• ⅔ cup sugar
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• ½ cup flour
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup chocolate chips

For the cream cheese layer, you’ll need:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 large egg yolk
• 5 tablespoons sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

Line a 9-inch or 8-inch square pan with foil. Mist with non-stick spray or grease lightly. Preheat oven to 350ºF.

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and chocolate over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and beat in the ⅔ cup sugar, then the eggs. Pour into a heat-safe bowl. Mix in the flour, cocoa powder and salt, then the vanilla and chocolate chips. Spread evenly in the prepared pan.

In a separate bowl, beat together the cream cheese, yolk, 5 tablespoons sugar and vanilla until smooth. Distribute the cream cheese mixture in dollops across the top of the brownie mixture, then take a dull knife or spatula and swirl the cream cheese mixture with the chocolate batter.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the batter in the center of the pan feels just set. Let cool, then lift out the foil and peel it away. Cut into huge squares and eat slowly. Feel better. YUM!

**Hungry? A long list of tasty recipes can be found on my FOOD BLISS page!**