Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for the pan
  • 3 ounces finely chopped semisweet chocolate
  • 3 ounces finely chopped unsweetened chocolate
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/8 teaspoon fine salt
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened (the microwave for 45 seconds at 50 percent power is a great way to do this)
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Method

  • Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, so that the edges of the paper come up the sides.
  • Lightly butter the paper.
  • Put both the semisweet and unsweetened chocolates and the butter in a heatproof medium bowl.
  • Fill a medium saucepan with a couple inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
  • Turn off the heat; set the bowl of chocolate over the water to melt.
  • Whisk until smooth.
  • (Alternatively, melt in a microwave at half power, for 1 minute, stir and then heat for another minute or until melted.)
  • Whisk the flour and salt in a bowl.
  • In a large bowl whisk together the eggs, sugar, and vanilla.
  • Stir the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture until smooth.
  • Add the dry ingredients and mix until just blended.
  • Take care not to over mix the batter.
  • Transfer the batter to the prepared pan.
  • For the marble swirl: Whisk the cream cheese with the sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
  • Drop very large spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture onto the surface of the brownie batter.
  • Insert a butter knife through the batter to the bottom of the pan.
  • With the flat edge of the knife, make swirling motions through the batters, occasionally lifting the knife through the top, until the dark and light batters are marbled.
  • Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies comes out coated with a fudge-y crumb, 30 to 35 minutes.
  • Cool the brownies in the pan on a rack.
  • To take the brownies out of the pan, lift the edges of the paper.
  • Cut the brownies into squares.
  • Serve.