After writing this post last night right before going to bed, I was literally dreaming of cheesecake all night long. I woke up, of course, craving cheesecake like crazy! I had no choice but to make some 
Instead of boring you and my test buds with the same recipe, this time I made some cheesecake brownies. Two of my loves – cheesecake and brownies combined in one recipe, I was giddy like a little kid on Christmas morning while making these! I used this recipe from Cooking Light for peppermint cheesecake brownies, but didn’t use the peppermint extract. I like peppermint but I was craving plain cheesecake this time. My friend Katie has used this recipe in the past (I blogged about trying it here) so I knew this was a good one. And I’m happy to say that mine came out just as well. I don’t think I’m ever buying cheesecake ever again, knowing how easy it is to make the lighter versions at home. 
Would you like to see some progress pics? Ok, since you asked so nicely
BROWNIE BATTER
* I recommend making that first if you’re using a Kitchen Aid to beat everything (saves you one bowl to clean since you can just transfer the finished batter straight to the pan you’ll bake it in)
Brownie batter ingredients:
Combine the dry ingredients…
Combine the wet ingredients and beat them with a mixer…
Add the dry into the wet…
Brownie batter done! Pour it into your baking pan…
Oh and don’t forget to save 1/2 cup of brownie batter for the top! 
CHEESECAKE BATTER
All the ingredients (yup, it’s that simple!):
Beat all ingredients with a mixer, starting with room temperature cream cheese, and adding sugar, eggs, then flour (one by one)…
Cheesecake batter done! It was a bit runny and I was concerned but after sneaking a little test taste I knew this was a winner
COMBINE THE TWO AND BAKE!
Pretty swirls
Doesn’t it looks like art? Here it is after baking…
And cut into slices… I divided this into 12 pieces (some triangular, some rectangular) although you can cut it up to 16 (that’s Cooking Light’s suggestion). I like slightly larger pieces because this way I’m truly satisfied and only eat 1 piece instead of going for a second one because “they’re small.”
I had this last guy for dessert with lunch (which I kept extra light knowing I had a special treat!). Oh yeah, these are awesome! I’m a proud cheesecake brownie mama What’s your favorite dessert?
Oh, Lord. I might be drooling right now.
Oh
My
God
Those cheesecake brownies are to die!
Pretty swirls and everything!
Yum! Looks even better than the honey cheesecake. Actually, they both look wonderful – have a piece of each
I recently came across your blog and boy, I’m glad I did! You cook/eat exactly like me! I’m also big time into home-baked desserts and your cheesecake brownie looks amazing!! I know Dorie Greenspan has a recipe for it in her book, I should totally try it out someday.
Nabeela, welcome to the blog! Glad you like it and I hope you stick around… I’ll be doing more baking I’m sure
LOVE the tutorial! Those look awesome!
My favorite dessert is tiramisu
Those look AWESOME! Yum! I am a cheesecake fiend, so I’m pretty much fawning over these right now
How funny you got up and had to make cheesecake, looks amazing! My favorite dessert is anything with peanut butter and chocolate! I wish I could find a healthy way to live off of it!
They are beautiful!! You are just the queen of amazing baked goods!
I’m almost embarrassed to admit I barely made it home before I DESTROYED the cheesecake brownie you gave me.
Three bites. Literally.
I wolfed that mother down, it was so good. Thank you for making my day much, much tastier. You are a baking goddess.
Yay, glad you liked it, Tiffany! I had one when we got home too
[...] Dreaming of cheesecake [...]
Another Elina recipe to bookmark! I like that this looks relatively straightforward but has a fancy-looking result
Holy cow I am going to have to make these SOON!
that looks amazing! look at you, with your fancy swirls! yumyumyum!
holy crap those look so delicious!
Yeah, Rachel, I think oatmeal is the only way to healthify choc + pb combo
Lara, yes it’s pretty easy. Requires doing 2 batches of batter but otherwise it’s quite simple… it definitely looks way more impressive than it actually is (work wise).
yummy, i could go for one right now!!