Meal in Minutes: Dessert Edition Tiramisu Brownies

What's a meal without dessert, right?

A month or two back, I went to one of my husband's work get-togethers. The hostess had a huge spread of the most delicious foods ever... but my eyes immediately spotted the brownies, all heart-shaped and delicious looking. She must have noticed the drool because she walked over to tell me that they were tiramisu brownies. That ruined it all for me right then and there. I know there are a lot of coffee lovers out there... but I am not one of them. I was disappointed. But they still looked REALLY good. So I sneaked a taste of my husband's brownie. Oh my word. Even with the coffee in them, they were to die for! I had one of my own. (And quite possibly a second but I'll never tell.) And I just had to have the recipe.

Today is your lucky day... because I'm going to share the not-so-secret recipe with you, too. I know you're already drooling. It comes from Taste of Home magazine.

Tiramisu Brownies

Ingredients

• 12 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped


• 1 cup butter, softened


• 1-1/3 cups plus 1/4 cup sugar, divided


• 8 eggs


• 1 cup cake flour


• 1/4 cup instant coffee granules or espresso powder


• 2 cartons (8 ounces each) Mascarpone cheese


• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract


• 1 teaspoon baking cocoa

Directions

In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate. Stir until smooth; cool slightly. Beat in butter. Gradually beat in 1-1/3 cups sugar. Add six eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.Combine flour and coffee granules; add to chocolate mixture. Beat on low speed just until combined; set aside.For filling, in a small bowl, beat the cheese, vanilla, remaining sugar and eggs until smooth.Pour 4 cups of chocolate batter into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Spread with filling. Top with remaining batter, spreading evenly to completely cover filling.Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until center is almost set and brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan.Cool on a wire rack. Dust with cocoa. Cut into squares. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 3 dozen.

And a few notes...

*I found the Mascarpone cheese in our specialty cheese section near the deli; it was not in the dairy aisle.

*I forgot to dust with cocoa and they were still yummy.

*To resist the temptation to eat the entire pan in one sitting, cut them up and deliver them to friends, family, coworkers and neighbors. They'll love you for it!

ENJOY!!