Cherry Nutella Brownies

This brownie recipe won during dessert week in the Real Women of Philadelphia cream cheese contest. Cue the happy dance! Stoked? Why yes, I am....ehehehehe. ;) These brownies have a lovely combination of flavors. Honesty, you just can't go wrong when Nutella is involved.

It does take a bit of time to spread the filling between the brownies. If you are in a bind for time you can cheat and use the filling like icing, spreading it across the top of the brownies. Drizzle some chocolate across the top of iced brownies and you are good to go.


Cherry Nutella Brownies

1 cup tub margarine
4 oz (squares) unsweetened chocolate
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups all purpose unbleached flour
8 oz reduced fat cream cheese
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup Nutella
1 cup dried tart cherries, chopped fine

Melt margarine and chocolate together in the microwave. Stir often and be careful not to overheat. Add in sugar and vanilla. Beat the eggs lightly in a small bowl before adding them to the chocolate mixture. Stir in flour. Pour batter into a greased 9x13 pan and bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes. You want a fudge like texture for these brownies so you don't want to bake them for too long. Pull them out before they test fully as done. Cool brownies.

Mix together cream cheese, nutella, and powdered sugar. Add in cherries. Cut brownies into squares. Cut each brownie in half creating two layers. Spread a spoonful or so of the nutella filling on the bottom half of each brownie. Press the top brownie layer down lightly over the filling to set it it place. Chill until ready to serve.