If you have a hard time choosing between chocolate desserts and pumpkin pie in the fall, this brownie pumpkin cheesecake brings the two flavors together into one glorious dessert. Instead of crushed cookie or graham cracker crumbs, a thin brownie layer forms the crust. The pumpkin cheesecake batter is poured on top of the brownie and baked a second time around. You can practice your decorating skills by piping a chocolate jack o'lantern face into the cheesecake right before baking it. This easy and tasty dessert is festive and can be made just in time for Halloween.
Pumpkin Brownie Cheesecake
Courtesy of Pillsbury
Brownie:
1 box (1 lb 3.9 oz) dark chocolate fudge brownie mix (Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on brownie mix box)
Pumpkin Filling:
2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 10-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Make brownie batter as directed on box for basic recipe; spread in pan. Bake 28 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out almost clean.
Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Beat in pumpkin until well blended. On low speed, beat in eggs 1 at a time, just until combined. Stir in vanilla and pumpkin pie spice. Reserve 1/2 cup filling in small bowl. Pour remaining filling over baked brownie base.
Stir melted chocolate into reserved filling; place chocolate in large resealable food-storage plastic bag. Seal bag; cut off 1 corner of bag. Squeeze bag to pipe jack-o'-lantern face on cheesecake.
Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool 30 minutes. Run knife around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake. Cool 30 minutes longer. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. Cover and refrigerate any remaining cheesecake.
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