Mexican Brownie Bottom Cheesecake
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I hope you’re all enjoying these guest posts as much as I am. Today’s is kinda awesome. Mexican Brownie Bottom Cheesecake. Um, yes. Yes, please. Immediately. Natalie of Perry’s Plate clearly knows what she’s talking about when it comes to Mexican food, so I vote that you all make this immediately and then send me some. I’m the girl on the big boat with the bright red sunburn. Shouldn’t be hard to find me at all.
I’m so excited to share a recipe today on Buns in My Oven! Karly’s vacation reminded me think of the one and only cruise I went on to Mexico. I decided to share this Mexican Brownie-Bottomed Cheesecake because after visiting Cancun for three days, I’m practically an expert on Mexican food.
Seriously. We ate nachos, fish tacos, and pina coladas. No cheesecake, but they totally eat cheesecake in Mexico. I’m 47% sure of it.
This spiced chocolate-cinnamon cheesecake is a cross between my husband’s favorite brownie-bottom cheesecake and a Mexican chocolate ice cream cake I made for our birthdays last year. And guess what? There’s cayenne in the brownie crust. I love the combination of chocolate and cinnamon and the addition of cayenne pepper gives it a tingly warmth that complements the smooth coolness from the cheesecake. We even dusted some cayenne on the top for an extra kick. Absolutely delish!
Ingredients
- 1/2 c butter, cut into pieces
- 4 oz unsweetened chocolate, cut into pieces
- 1 c sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 c flour
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 c semisweet or milk chocolate chips (optional)
- 3-8-oz pkgs cream cheese, softened
- ¾ c sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 T cinnamon
- ½ c sour cream
- 3 eggs
- More cayenne pepper for garnish, if desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare an 8 or 9-inch springform pan with non-stick spray.
- To prepare the crust, melt the butter over med-low heat. When butter is melted, reduce heat to low and add chocolate, stirring constantly until melted. Remove from heat and stir in sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mixing between each addition. Add vanilla. Stir in the flour, cinnamon, cayenne, and salt, and stir vigorously for 30 seconds until batter is smooth. Stir in chocolate chips, if using.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, until the center is barely set. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Store at room temperature until filling is ready.
- Reduce oven heat to 325 degrees F or preheat again, if necessary.
- To prepare the filling, mix cream cheese, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla with mixer until well blended, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Blend in sour cream. Add eggs, mixing on low speed just until blended. Pour over brownie crust.
- Place springform pan on a rimmed cookie sheet and place in the oven. Pour about 3/4-inch of water into the baking sheet. Bake at 325 for 1 hour and 5 minutes or until center is almost set. The very center of the cheesecake should jiggle slightly, but the outer 3 inches or so should be firm. Turn oven off and crack oven door. Leave cheesecake to cool until it's OK to pick up without hot pads. Transfer to the counter-top until cooled to room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake. Remove outer rim of pan, slice, and serve with a dusting of cayenne, if desired. Makes about 12 servings.
- Notes:
- 1. You can use a 10-15 ounce package of brownie mix instead of making the brownies from scratch. Just add the cinnamon and cayenne to the dry ingredients and bake in the springform pan as directed on the package.
- Sources: Adapted from The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz and a Pillsbury Annual Recipe cookbook.
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Oh my goodness! Your cheesecake looks divine. It would be the perfect finish to a Mexican-themed dinner. Thanks so much for the yummy recipe. Lovely photos!
I love the combo of spicy/warm flavors with the cool textures of cheesecake. A-mazing. =)
How delicious! I love Natalie’s creations!
I just did a little something sweet with cayenne, too! The Texan way of eating spicy chocolate is catching on!!
Thanks for having me Karly!
Wow, this is MY kind of cheesecake! Will definitely be making this.
This looks absolutely to die for… I bet It tastes wonderful with all those flavours, Im definately going to try this soon prob wont turn out like this hehe!!! but I will try…
Thanx for sharing!!
LisaMarie
What an interesting combination! Brownie crust, a little spice, creamy cheesecake… Yum!
YUM!! I love when spicy pepper is paired with chocolate-MMMyum!:)
This looks insanely good. Nom nom.
This was my first cheesecake and it was divine! Thank you for an awesome recipe!
YUM! I am new to reading/finding blogs and just tonight perusing yours. Beng a cream cheese addict, reading this recipe was second nature. Think I’ll make these as well as Guiness chocolate cheesecake in some cute 2.75 x 2″ containers tomorrow. After living throughout Mexico several years doing medical missionary work I must say I’ve never had cheesecake. They DO have quite a few delightful cheeses some of which are hard and crumbly, to die for over rice and beans with pico de gallo, crema like sour cream, and melting yummy ones. A veteran of over 20 cruises, however, have only NOT had cheesecake once: an Italian ship with mostly German passengers—-lost more weight on that cruise than I usually do. Keep up with the yummy-looking posts! thanks, newbie wendy
Made the cheesecake this weekend and it was wonderful!
Instead of chocolate chips, I chunked up Lindt Excellence Dark chocolate bar infused with spicy Rex chili (in candy isle of most groceries and target)!! AMAZING!