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There are a few things in life that I procrastinate on. One thing I tend to procrastinate on is spending money on something that I really don’t want to spend money on and feel that the money could be spent on something else aka things I actually want. What I’m talking about is, I have been procrastinating buying a new pair of work shoes for a really long time. I think I needed a new pair over a year ago but I seriously cannot justify spending $50 on a pair of work shoes. Call me cheap or selfish, but I’d rather put $50 into a pair of shoes I can wear on any other day but work days. I have a different outlook on work attire than others. People I know love dressing up for work. They say it’s the only time they can dress up and show off cute new outfits. Um, hello. Not true. You can make time & go on cute dates with your husband and dress up. Anyway.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, I hate dressing up for work. Maybe that’s my nerdy IT developer mindset because I know some people see clients on a day to day basis so that’s why they probably need to dress up, but me? I come to work, sit in front of a computer all day, attend maybe one or two meetings a week, and that’s it. I just don’t have this urge to dress up so that’s why I hate buying stuff for work. When I deem something that’s “for work,” I do not wear any of it outside of work because it just gives me a weird vibe. I don’t want to feel like I’m at work outside of work, you know? Or you don’t? I’m just weird, huh?
SOOO YEAH. Long story short (or not really): I need a new pair of work shoes and I refuse to spend over $50 for them and I have been procrastinating like a kid who doesn’t want to clean up their playroom. It’s gotten to the point where the shoes I’m wearing are destroyed (like the heel is dunzo) so I’m forced to look for a new pair of work shoes.
Any ideas where I can go to look for cute work flats? DSW? Target? I haven’t had much luck with both those in a while…thoughts??
I love pumpkin, I love cheesecake, and I love brownies. The trifecta that are in these pumpkin cheesecake swirl brownies is pretty dang awesome. The brownies are SUPER moist on the inside (as you can see from that picture above) and the pumpkin cheesecake on top is just fantastic. I loved smelling this while it was baking in the oven. I think this would be the perfect dessert to bring to a friendsgiving party or to have on your Thanksgiving menu. :)
Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl Brownies
Ingredients
For the brownies:
- ⅓ cup (29 g) Dutch-processed cocoa
- 1 ½ teaspoon instant espresso, optional
- ½ cup (118 ml) plus 2 tbsp. boiling water
- 2 ounces (57 g) unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
- 4 tablespoon (56 g) unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup (118 ml) plus 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2 large egg yolks
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups (400 g) sugar
- 1 ¾ cups (219 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 6 ounces (170 g) bittersweet chocolate, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
For the pumpkin cheesecake topping:
- 4 ounces (113 g) cream cheese, room temperature
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup (82 g) pumpkin puree
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
- Adjust oven racks to middle position and preheat oven to 350 °F (177 °C). Line a 9×9" baking pan with parchment paper and leave a one-inch over-hang on either side. Spray with non-stick baking spray and set aside.
- Whisk cocoa, espresso, and boiling water in a large bowl until smooth. Add unsweetened chocolate and whisk until melted. Whisk in butter and vegetable oil. The mixture might look a little funky, but it’s ok. Add eggs, egg yolks, and vanilla extract and continue to whisk until mixture is smooth and everything is combined.
- Whisk in sugar until fully incorporated then whisk in flour and salt. Fold in the bittersweet chocolate pieces.
- Pour batter into prepared baking pan and set aside while you make the pumpkin cheesecake topping.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the pumpkin puree, egg, and pumpkin pie spice. Beat until mixture is smooth and incorporated.
- Taking a tablespoon, drop spoonfuls of pumpkin cream cheese batter onto the top of the brownie batter in no particular pattern. Take a toothpick or knife and drag it throughout the batter, swirling the pumpkin and brownie batters together.
- Bake the brownies for 35-40 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center is still jiggly. You don’t want to over-bake these otherwise they’ll be cakey!
- Let the brownies cool in the pan for 20 minutes then lift the brownies out of the pan with the parchment paper, and place onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prior to cutting, place brownies into refrigerator for 30 minutes then use a sharp knife to cut them into squares. Clean off the knife every now and then if it gets too gummy.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
These look so rich and decadent! My kinda dessert ;)
I just cooked for three days straight but these make me want to jump right back in the kitchen!!
The swirl on these brownies has me cheering with happiness!
Julie, I’m the same way about buying things that I don’t totally want to spend my money on… I can always think of 10 other ways I could spend that money. These Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl Brownies look so good! I’d gladly spend the money to get the ingredients. Recipe is pinned!
Haha, that’s funny – I’m glad you’ll spend money on the ingredients :) these babies are worth it! Thanks girl!
These are a request of my daughter’s friend since I owe her for scoring in their last soccer game, so now I have my recipe! I swear by Nordstrom Rack for shoes, it’s the only place I’ll go and now have such a hard time paying full price!
I need these brownies in my life, love the swirl!
OMG. Drool! These are all that I want right now. Perfect flavor combination, Julie!
I’m the same way with work clothes! Ok, my situation is a bit different because I work outdoors, but I will not let any of my work clothes touch my other clothes! I take them off in the laundry room the minute I get home, jump in the shower, and then put on ‘real’ clothes. I get ya. Totally.
For shoes: Zappos. Seriously. If you are hesitant about ordering online, returns are SO easy. Just rebox, print a mailing slip, and drop off at UPS. Free returns. I ordered 4 pairs of shoes and kept 1 last month.
Now you owe me a pan of these brownies ;)
Ok, so I have a $18 credit at Zappo’s and I’m on their VIP account so I guess I have no excuse to NOT order from there, huh? Guess I’ll just have to go check it out. It’s so overwhelming though cause they have SO much and sometimes the filters don’t really work. Lol, I’m being annoying. I’ll gladly make a pan for you, love ;)
These look so amazing! I’m rushing to the store to make this tonight:)
Oh fun! Enjoy them :)
We both have brownies on the brain today! Love these!