Happy October!

I realize I’m a tad bit late as it’s almost November, but I’ve been MIA here on the blog for the past 3 weeks. I flew to meet some of my family in Paris and IT WAS A DREAM. All the hugs and jokes, pastries, sight-seeing, adventures, and everything else that happens when in Paris with some Morris family. We fit right in, people kept mistaking us for Parisians with our striped shirts, berets, and flawless French while taking photos constantly. I should probably write a blog about it when I get back.

Just kidding, just kidding.

I already miss my family so much. Nothing like watching your family fly away and suddenly feeling like my 18-year-old self again watching my parents drive away after having helped me move to Mississippi. I miss Paris too. Another thing I really enjoyed was the real fall weather there. Paris weather is actually quite similar to my hometown in Traverse City, Michigan. Except that Paris isn’t under 2+ feet of snow for 4+ months…meanwhile I left Florence still reaching into the high 70’s and 80’s (Fahrenheit), and returned to the same temperatures. In Paris I actually needed the sweaters, coats, boots, and hot beverages and it felt so right. C’mon Firenze, you can do it! Chilly temperatures for some serious fall-ing.

Until Firenze decides to get its act together, these rich chocolate brownies with a spiced pumpkin cream cheese swirl can help out.

While I didn’t bake or blog in Paris (why would I bake when world-class pastries are so cheap and at my doorstep??) I did whip up some autumn and pumpkin goodies and took photos of the blog-worthy ones before coming because I planned ahead! One catch though, I meant to post this WHILE I was in Paris, but that just didn’t happen and I’m ok with it. I was eating pain au chocolat, chaussons aux pommes, and macarons.

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A recipe by Jenny.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirled Brownies

Serves 9-12

Ingredients:

For the Brownies

• scant 1/2 cup / 85g oil

• 1 cup / 200g sugar

• 1 egg

• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/3 cup / 33g unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1/2 cup / 60g all-purpose flour

For the Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl

• 4 oz / 115g cream cheese, softened

• 1/4 cup / 60g pumpkin purée

• 2 Tbsp / 25g sugar

• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

• dash of ginger

• dash of nutmeg

• dash of cloves

Directions

Make the Brownies

Oven 350°F / 177°C.  Lightly greased 8x8in / 20x20cm pan.

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine oil and sugar.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Add cocoa powder and salt.  Mix in flour until just combined. 

2. Pour into prepared pan and smooth with a spatula.

Make the Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl

1. In a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar, and spices until smooth and creamy. This can be done with a spoon or in a stand mixer.

2. Dollop pumpkin cheesecake by spoonful over brownie batter. Use a a knife or the edge of a spatula to smooth and swirl pumpkin cheesecake into brownie batter.

3. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out mostly clean.  Allow to cool.

Jenny’s Notes:

• The brownie batter and cream cheese will be thick and may stick up in places where it has been swirled, that’s ok, just do your best to smooth it down so everything is mostly level.