An indulgent combination of brownie and cheesecake, meets the fall flavors of a pumpkin spice latte. The upside of baking at home is the ability to control what you are eating, even if it’s something indulgent. Store bought baked goods tend to be loaded with extra sugar, fillers, and preservatives. Take the lead, carve out a little time, and really enjoy your indulgence and the experience.

1 hour making, 1 hour baking. Oven 350 degrees. 9 x 12 baking dish

Recipe

• 2 sticks unsalted butter
• 12 oz dark chocolate pieces or chips
• 1/2 cup espresso powder

• 6 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups natural cane sugar
• 1 T vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree

• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup + 1 T natural cane sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ginger
• 1/8 tsp cloves
• 1 T corn starch

Preheat oven to 350.

Start with the last 10 ingredients to make the pumpkin cheesecake top layer. In a medium mixing bowl, beat the pumpkin puree and cream cheese until smoothish and well combined. Add egg through cloves and beat well. Gently mix in corn starch. Set mixture aside. Place butter and 12 oz of chocolate in the bowl of a double boiler (a heat proof bowl that will rest securely on top of a sauce pan filled with simmering water. Goal: gently melt chocolate.) or melt in microwave. Stir in espresso powder. Set aside. Measure out dry ingredients, flour-cinnamon, and set aside. Combine eggs through pumpkin puree in a large mixing bowl and mix well, until light and creamy. Scrape sides and bottom, mix to combine completely. Add a small amount of the melted chocolate to the eggs and sugar mixture. Mix. Continue to add melted chocolate and mix, until all of the chocolate and butter is mixed in. Next, fold in the flour mixture. Lightly mix with a rubber spatula until combined. Spray or butter your 9 x 13 baking dish, and dust with flour. Pour brownie batter, evenly, into pan. Top with cheesecake mixture that you made first. Drag the tip of a knife through the cheesecake mixture to smooth and slightly mix into brownie layer. Place in the middle of the preheated oven. Bake for 55-60 min., depending on your oven. Cheesecake layer should be set. Allow to cool before cutting