Chocolate Fudge Cheese Cake Brownies
with Nutella-Pecan Frosting

Ingredients

Brownie Base

• 4 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate (Bakers is good)
• 1 cup butter
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour

Cheesecake

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

Frosting

• 1/2 (13 ounce) jar Nutella (stirred well before spreading)
• 1/2 cup toasted and crushed pecans
  

Instructions

1. Brownie Base: Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Melt unsweetened chocolate and butter in a bowl over simmering water. Remove mixture from heat and stir in sugar until well mixed. Add eggs, vanilla extract and salt; beat well. Fold in flour and mix just until smooth. Pour into prepared pan and set aside.
3. Cheesecake: Beat cream cheese and sugar in a mixing bowl. Add egg and vanilla extract and mix until smooth. Add flour; mix until just blended.
4. Place spoonsful of cream cheese batter on brownies. Swirl cream cheese mixture into brownie base mixture, using a butter knife.
5. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a wooden pick or knife inserted in center comes out clean.
6. Frosting: While brownies are still warm, BUT not hot, frost with Nutella. Sprinkle the crushed pecans over all.