Cream Cheese Swirl Guinness Brownies

Let's talk about beer for a second. Beer, a lot like wine, has been an acquired taste for me. When I first started drinking, I could not stand the smell or taste of beer. Even the lightest beers made me turn the other way and ask for every high schooler's new drinker's go-to: Mike's Hard Lemonade. Now I think about Mike's Hard Lemonade and gag. Funny how things change. Even to this day, I'm still learning to appreciate different beers. I no longer squinch my nose when I try a new beer, but I still have a long way to go to fully appreciating beer, especially darker beers. Now you might be wondering why I decided to make Guinness brownies. If you are anything like me and haven't developed a taste for Guinness, don't worry; these brownies are amazing despite the strong, dark beer in them.

Actually, these brownies aren't just amazing, they are out of this world delicious. Just ask one of the many people who devoured them at our St. Patrick's Day party this weekend. I'm not quite sure if it's the Guinness, three different chocolates, or cream cheese swirl that make these brownies so darn good, but they are definitely some of the best brownies I've ever had.

While the Guinness is not overtly apparent when you take your first bite, you can taste an added depth of flavor that comes from the rich, dark, "tangy" flavors that Guinness is known for. Think of how adding spices to a dish or chicken stock instead of water to a starch amplifies the flavors of the ingredients without overpowering them; that is exactly the role that Guinness plays in these brownies. The three different kinds of chocolate are the star of these brownies, while the creamy swirls and Guinness flavors enhance these treats and make them exceptional. Guinness also contributes to the light yet fudgey texture of these brownies. Perfect texture and perfect flavors all thanks to Guinness. Want to learn to appreciate dark beer? Bake a batch of these brownies!

Cream Cheese Swirl Guinness Brownies (adapted from Yin Mom,Yang Mom)
(20-24 brownies)

1 1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
5 Tbsp unsalted butter
5 eggs, divided
1 1/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
1 11.2-ounce bottle Guinness Draught Stout Beer
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted after measuring
1/4 tsp salt
8 ounces low fat (Neufchatel) cream cheese, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9x13 inch pan very well. Set aside.

Add the semisweet chocolate, milk chocolate chips, and butter to a double boiler. Stir until the chocolate and butter are melted. Remove from heat. Add four eggs and 1 cup of granulated sugar to melted chocolate mixture. Whisk ingredients together until thoroughly combined. Pour in Guinness, and slowly mix into brownie batter. Add the flour, sifted cocoa powder, and salt to brownie batter. Mix until all of the ingredients are combined.

In a mixing bowl, whip the cream cheese with a whisk or handheld mixer until light and fluffy. Add the remaining egg, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and vanilla extract, and whisk until incorporated.

Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan. Drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture on top of the brownie batter. Take a knife and swirl the cream cheese throughout the brownie batter. Bake for 30 minutes, or until brownies are set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean. Cool the brownies entirely in the pan before cutting.

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Nutritional Info
Servings Per Recipe: 24
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 202.5
Total Fat: 10.1 g
Cholesterol: 53.1 mg
Sodium: 83.1 mg
Total Carbs: 26.6 g
Fiber: 1.8 g
Sugars: 15.8 g
Protein: 3.9 g

Pros:
-Great for St. Patrick's Day (you can even add green food coloring to the cream cheese to make it more festive)
-Delicious, fudgey, rich brownies
-Crowd pleaser
-Brownies taste great and stay fudgey and chewy for days

Cons:
-You'll have a lot of dishes to clean

I linked this recipe to DC In Style. Check out some other recipes shared!