On a recent apple-picking venture in our local mountains, I found myself coming home laden with more than just apples… apple cider, apple butter and pumpkin butter followed me home too. I found uses for the cider and apple butter within muffins and breads. But the pumpkin butter stumped me. Sure, I could have used it on toast or bagels or any of the normal ways to use it up. But truthfully, I don’t really care for it all that much for breakfast. My answer was in a dessert recipe: Cheesecake- Topped Brownies with Pumpkin Butter Swirl.
The bottom brownie layer was thick, while the cheesecake functioned as a thin layer on top. A mixture of pumpkin butter and apricot jam were swirled into the cheesecake.
The brownie itself was very fudgy- similar in texture and taste to Ina’s brownies. I liked that they turned out a bit uneven and ‘hilly.’ It made them a little more interesting, and each sliced brownie was unique in its appearance.
The pumpkin-swirled tops of these brownies remained sticky and gooey, so a little sheet of parchment in-between layers took care of containing the mess as well as the impending disaster of glued-together treats.
This is what happens when you make your subjects sit for an extended photography session where they are poked and prodded and commanded to perform. They get sleepy and lazy and bored and… tip over.
The verdict is that these were excellent brownies… very different with the pumpkin flavor attached to the top. If you enjoy chocolate and pumpkin together, this is for you. Unlike those pumpkin brownies that I made a while back, you can actually taste both the chocolate and the pumpkin flavors in this recipe.
If you’re looking for a fall treat recipe that makes a large quantity… this is a good one. I made these in a 12×17-inch half-sheet pan and ended up with about 4 dozen brownies (yeah, the teachers got these treats too.) We ate one, or two (ok three). And I have to say that these were also terrific when paired with a scoop of lowfat vanilla ice cream.
This recipe can be found HERE.
Girl you never cease to amaze me. How very creative. These sound insanely good. I love new creations.
What a beautiful idea! Every layer looks and sounds magnificent!
wow it looks delicious and it looks so nice too.
What a great use for pumpkin butter!!! Love them!
I think the “hilly” gives it style 🙂 It looks almost like you did it on purpose. Yum! Very creative.
That swirl is amazing! What a wonderful way to top off brownies!
Wow, those look amazing!
Wow, I am definitely drooling over the pumpkin butter swirl on top…
Oh my gosh! Another one I have to make…I’ve been baking all your treats this past few weeks and my family is expecting them every day now ;O) But that’s okay! They’re dang good and we’re enjoying the calories together!
Absolutely tantalizing. The swirls are perfection!
The pumpkin butter sounds so good! These look great.
Since I’ve gone on a pumpkin kick as of late, I think I’ll add this recipe to my list of must-trys. I dearly love brownies, and I really like the taste of pumpkin in baked goods.
The cheesecake/pumpkin/apricot layer looks perfect with it’s swirls and hills from the brownie. Definitely a photogenic food item, I would say! Plus, I bet they taste delicious.
Decadent… This is a winner!!!
ohhh. yum!! that looks great! i love the pumpkin butter!!
You’ve got lots of flavor and texture goin on here, great brownies!
Sorry you could get the brownies to behave while you were taking pictures! They look delicious!!!
These look so delicious, I love pumpkin and chocolate together. Adding cheesecake makes it even better.
Looks like paradise. Your brownies look so rich and fudgy on the bottom layer. I was already craving brownies before I got here. It is getting worse. Might. Have. To Give. In.
An enjoyable twist to the perfect brownie:D
Look at that golden goodness!
This is wonderful! I’ve never tasted pumpkin butter but I think you had the best idea to use it! The brownie layer looks to die for by itself, but the top layer gives it that special something! Lovely!
Beautiful!!! I love pumpkin and chocolate together, especially when you can really taste both. YUM! Now, where is that jar of pumpkin butter from Trader Joe’s…
Hells Bells that looks good! How ingenius to top it with cheesecake!
Omigosh, that’s beyond sinful! I want one! (Or ten!)
But… low-fat ice cream? Hee hee 🙂