The world is split into two camps. In one camp are those who blithely jump out of bed every morning eager to greet the new day. The other camp is inhabited by zombies who sleepwalk through the first few hours of the day, grumpily staring into the middle distance unable to do much other than grunt. I belong – very firmly – in the second camp. In fact the only thing that gets me out of bed (late, always late) is a freshly made cup of coffee that my husband prepares in order to entice me into the land of the living. The first cup of many.
I love coffee. I mean LOVE it. I don’t think I could function without it. Which is why I am very excited to partner up with Brown Bear to give Supergolden Bakes readers a chance to win their entire range of coffee, an AeroPress (an awesome portable coffee maker) plus their wonderful Luxury Hot Chocolate. Enter this fabulous giveaway via the Gleam entry form at bottom of this post (giveaway now closed).
The other great thing about coffee is that it pairs remarkably well with baked treats. Especially these espresso caramel cheesecake brownies. I have refrained from brownie recipes on this blog for one simple reason: the are DANGEROUS. Eat a tiny morsel and suddenly you are addicted and half the tray is gone. These particular brownies are so good I am pretty sure they ended the Cold War retroactively (I have been watching The Americans). Please proceed with caution and share responsibly.
Espresso cheesecake brownies
Ingredients
- 115 g | 1 stick unsalted butter cubed
- 100 g | 3.5oz milk chocolate minimum 30% cocoa
- 125 g | 4.5oz dark chocolate minimum 60% cocoa
- 100 g | 3.5oz caster sugar
- 100 g | 3.5oz light brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 100 g | 3.5oz plain flour
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1-2 tbsp espresso
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 80 g | 2.8oz milk chocolate chips
- ______
- 150 g | 5.3oz full fat cream cheese
- 80 g | 2.8oz icing powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp flour
- 3 heaped tbsp caramel - store-bought or homemade optional
- 1 small egg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C | 350F. Line a deep pan (11x7in) with baking paper letting the paper hang over the edges. You also can use a square pan (9x9in).
- Chop the two types of chocolate into small chunks. Place the chocolate and butter into a bowl.
- Bring a small pot of water to a rolling simmer and then turn heat off. Place a bowl on top, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Let the butter and chocolate slowly melt, stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool.
- Put the eggs and sugar in large bowl and use a hand whisk to mix together. Make sure there are no lumps of brown sugar lurking in there.
- Add a little of the melted chocolate into the eggs and gently whisk together. Gradually add all the chocolate and vanilla extract and mix thoroughly.
- Sift the flour, cocoa, espresso and salt into the chocolate and fold together with a spatula.
- Add the chocolate chips and fold them in.
- Mix the cream cheese, flour, egg, icing sugar and caramel together until smooth.
- Pour the chocolate batter into the prepared pan. Spoon the cream cheese in three parallel lines across the length of the pan. Drag a knife across the cheesecake lines across the with of the pan to create swirls and gently mix the two batters.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or up to 40 depending on pan size. The brownies are ready when mostly firm on top with a slight 'give'. Test after 30 minutes – a skewer inserted in the centre should come out with a few moist crumbs attached but if batter is still too wet bake for a further 5 mins.
- Turn the oven off, open the door and pull tray part way out. Leave the brownies there until tray is cool enough to handle.
- Put the tray on a drying rack to cool completely. I know it is tempting to try the brownies now but please leave for an hour. They will be much easier to cut and less likely to fall apart.
- Lift the brownies out of the pan using the paper overhang and cut neatly into squares. You can drizzle with a little extra caramel if you want go completely over the top!
Bernadette Willis says
I've never got my head round it, I'm a real morning person, yet a night owl too, I just find it hard to stay awake for the rest of the day.
Twiddle Dee says
I'm definitely a night owl – Natalie Gillham
Vivienne Wilkes says
I work nights so tend to be a night owl!
Katharine says
night owl
Angela Webster says
I'm a morning person, I'm usually in bed by 10pm !
Sigourney P says
I'm definitely a night owl! something about the tranquility of the darkness and me getting to relax with a dvd 🙂
Nicola Holland says
A morning person 🙂 got to keep up with the children 🙂
Lady Chelington says
I'm a night owl. I wish i found it easier to get up in a morning.
Anonymous says
I am going to try to make the brownies in the recipe that you have provided. They look mouth watering 😀
DoctorFaye says
Definitely a night owl – beware my wrath if you wake me up early!
Anonymous says
I'm a morning person 😀
AliceMegan says
Definitely a night owl!
spearce says
neither!!!once i am up i am fine though
KeithW says
I'm a morning person (mostly)
Ella Wilson says
I always seem to stay up late without meaning to, meaning i'm usually not a morning person at all. But here I am, at 6.56am, entering this competition before work, haha! I hope its worth it…. 🙂
Susan says
I'm a night owl
David Price says
Im a morning person
Pretenna says
Night owl – as you can tell from the time I'm posting this!
lynn neal says
Night Owl
Carole Walker says
Night owl without a doubt!