Strawberry Cheesecake Brownie Squares 🍓

Delicious cheesecake topped
fudge brownie squares❣

Cheesecake Layer Ingredients: 

8 ounces cream cheese (at room temperature)

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg (at room temperature)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup strawberry jam

Brownie Layer Ingredients:

parchment paper

butter for greasing

2 eggs (at room temperature)

1 egg yolk (at room temperature)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

4 ounces dark chocolate, broken or chopped

1/2 teaspoon pink Himalayan or sea salt

1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup avocado oil

Method:

Preheat oven to 350*. Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper. Lightly grease the paper with butter. Set the prepared pan aside.

Add the cream cheese, sugar, egg, vanilla and 1/4 of the jam to a medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer, on low speed, just until the ingredients are smooth and combined. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour cocoa and salt and set aside. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, yolk, sugars oil and vanilla. Set aside.

Add the butter and chocolate to a microwave safe bowl. Heat in a microwave oven for 30 seconds and then stir. Repeat until the butter and chocolate are melted and blended together. Whisk the sugar and egg mixture into the melted chocolate and butter. Use a large fork to mix in the flour mixture, just until all of the flour is blended in. 

Pour the brownie batter into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Pour the cheesecake batter on top of the brownie layer and carefully spread to cover. Spoon teaspoons of the remaining 1/4 cup of jam on top of the cheesecake batter.

Use a butter knife to gently swirl the jam on the cheesecake layer, being careful not to disturb the chocolate layer. 

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned and set. (Halfway through baking, loosely cover with foil to keep the top from burning.)

Cool completely on a rack and then chill in the refrigerator for one hour or overnight. Cut into 16 equal squares. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Notes: These tasty brownies have a fudgy chocolate layer that is topped by a cheesecake layer that is not overly sweet.