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You are here: Home / Cookies, Brownies and Bars / Chocolate Chip Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Chocolate Chip Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting

February 26, 2020 5 Comments

Chocolate Chip Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting with a Bite Missing PIN
Chocolate Chip Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting on a Tiered Serving Tray
Chocolate Chip Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting Closup of Tray Before Cutting
Chocolate Chip Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting Slice PIN
Fudgy Chocolate Chip Brownies filled with toasted pecans are topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting. These are seriously THE BOMB!

Slice of Chocolate Chip Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting on a Round Plate

I am on a brownie streak for some reason. Other than loving them myself, I have several people I’m sending care packages to and brownies are always a good call. Not as difficult to deliver as cake and not as delicate as cookies and well, who doesn’t LOVE chocolate? So while I have several to share, today it ‘s all about these Chocolate Chip Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting!

While the notion of comfort food typically elicits thoughts of soup, casseroles and hearty stews, tell me one person who doesn’t feel comforted if given or sent a plate of delicious brownies. And these brownies are seriously delish! My daughter recently had a baby…she and hubs NEED brownies and my niece is getting some because I have something else packaged for her.

Platter of Chocolate Chip Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting

My children, both adults, never have the time to read my blog (WHAT?) which might be good because I can share family secrets and they’ll never know. Plus I feel like I can confess this to you. These were the brownies I craved the most when my girls were young and probably because they had toasted pecans in them, lots and lots of toasted pecans.

Being the good mom that I was, I dutifully made pan after pan of brownies over the years without nuts to appease my youngest daughter’s dislike of them, but I missed them each and every time. For me they are fundamental so it was just one of those many small ways that moms show love to their kids and I did without.

I do believe I had brownies on the brain after dropping her off at college, expecting to make a big tray of them and eat the whole thing myself, tons of nuts included. OK, maybe not the whole thing…but I could have. Funny about individual tastes, I always felt it was her loss because these are simply the best.

This is my favorite base too when making other brownies because without leavening, they are not cake-like brownies and an extra gooey component comes from the inclusion of chocolate chips in the dough. Plus they are absolutely chock full of toasted (absolutely critical) pecans and all of this chocolatey, nutty goodness is covered with a slightly tangy cream cheese frosting.

I would be craving some now just writing that sentence except that I made these last week but don’t cry for me; I finished German Chocolate Brownies yesterday and had one of those. I told you…I’m on a roll. Of course they are perfect for breakfast!

Inspired by a recipe in one of my vintage Junior League Cookbooks, they are so perfect that the ONLY thing I’ve done to edit the original is to add espresso powder to the brownie batter and garnish the frosting with shaved chocolate. So unlike me to not have to make a big change but they are that good.

I’ve had lots of wonderful brownies over the years, but this combination? One of the best. Are they better than my brownies made with a touch of red wine? Please don’t make me choose; I love them both too much.

I admit that when I still had kids at home I would keep the Ghirardelli Chocolate Brownie Mix in my pantry for those moments when I needed something quick, like a sleepover with friends. They were good for that, but nothing beats homemade brownies. And nothing beats making them with quality ingredients either.

A couple of my favorite tips to insure great results?

  1. Use Quality Chocolate – I used to keep Nestle Chocolate Chips on hand for everything. Today I prefer using the large chocolate bars from Trader Joe’s. If using chocolate chips, most grocery stores now carry Ghirardelli Chocolate Chips (affiliate link) and they are good too; well worth the few extra pennies.
  2. Dried Espresso – I always have a jar of Medaglia D’Oro Instant Espresso Coffee (affiliate link) on hand. Great for adding to chocolate to boost the flavor profile and love adding it to my favorite barbecue sauces too.
  3. Parchment Paper – Nothing and I mean nothing has helped me with baking issues like Parchment Paper (affiliate link). Where I once would occasionally read a recipe calling for its use; now I simply put it in the bottom of every cake and brownie pan; why take chances when this simple step will save a ton of potential heartache by assuring your baked goods NEVER stick!

 Chocolate Chip Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting with a Bite on a Fork

They’re calling me from the kitchen; bet you want a bite too don’t you? Hurry over and you might be able to snag one for yourself. And I mean hurry before they are all gone!!!

Love brownies as much as I do? Here's more of my favorites!

Some of my favorite things are rich, chocolate brownies and these are some of my favorite recipes!

Dark Chocolate Brownies with Espresso, Toasted Walnuts and Salted Caramel Glaze

Red Wine Chocolate Brownies with Toasted Walnuts

Gooey Brownies with Toasted Pecans and White Chocolate Chips

Nutella Fudge Brownies with Mocha Buttercream Frosting

Mexican Espresso Brownies with Espresso Chocolate Glaze

Valrhona Chocolate Brownies

Bourbon Chocolate Brownies with Bourbon Buttercream and Sauce

Kahlua Pumpkin Spice Brownies

PIN IT! ‘Chocolate Chip Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting’

  Chocolate Chip Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting Slice PIN

Yield: 24 Brownies

Chocolate Chip Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Slice of Chocolate Chip Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting on a Round Plate

Fudgy Chocolate Chip Brownies filled with toasted pecans are topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting. These are seriously THE BOMB!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter
  • 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
  • 1 tsp dried espresso powder
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 4 large eggs, beaten
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 2 cups chopped pecans, toasted
  • 6 ounces 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 6 Tbsp butter, softened
  • 1 Tbsp milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 cups powdered sugar

Garnish:

  • Grated chocolate, optional

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. To Make the Brownies
  3. Melt the butter and chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Add the dried espresso and mix to combine. Cool to room temperature.
  4. Cream sugar, eggs and vanilla in a large mixing bowl; add chocolate mixture and mix well.
  5. Combine flour and salt with a whisk and add to chocolate mixture, mix well.
  6. Stir in pecans and chocolate chips and spread batter into a greased and floured 9X13 inch pan.
  7. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool.
  8. To Make the Frosting
  9. Beat the cream cheese until soft. Add the butter, beating until smooth. Stir in the milk and vanilla.
  10. Gradually add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth; add milk a half teaspoon at a time if necessary until desired spreading consistency,.
  11. Spread over cooled brownies; garnish with chocolate if desired.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

1 grams

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 411Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 12gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 122mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 2gSugar: 37gProtein: 4g
© Creative Culinary

 


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Comments

  1. Maureen says

    April 21, 2015 at 12:00 am

    I love that you chose cream cheese as your frosting for this chocolate chip brownies. These are very yummy. You have a great balance of flavors. The nuts made it even better. I love it!
    Reply
  2. sylvie says

    March 21, 2015 at 12:21 am

    I would be able to eat a dozen by myself, these brownies are a fine balance between chocolate and nuts, it's on the docket for next week!
    Reply
  3. Karin Anderson says

    March 19, 2015 at 7:35 pm

    Those look really good. I agree, brownies with nuts are the best.
    Reply
    • Creative Culinary says

      March 21, 2015 at 1:26 pm

      And LOTS of nuts. Her tastes have changed as she has matured but still no nuts. You like beer and no nuts. Well, that is NUTS!
      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Chili Chocolate Brownies with Gochugaru, Ginger, Sesame Seed, Olive Oil, Fleur de Sel - Taste With The Eyes says:
    June 13, 2016 at 9:18 am
    […] Culinary: Chocolate Chip Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting Elephants and the Coconut Trees: Brownies with Condensed Milk Food for 7 Stages of Life: Easy […]
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