It’s Fall 2020. We need chocolate! We need pumpkin spice! And we need it drenched with caramel! These satisfying brownies check all of the boxes with multiple layers of comfort. A rich chocolate brownie is the base. The next layer is heavenly pumpkin cheesecake. The topping is a buttery crumble that rivals the best crumb cake. Finally, as if that isn’t enough, it’s drizzled with caramel sauce!
If it sounds complicated, don’t worry, it’s not. Each layer is super easy to make. You can use your favorite store bought caramel sauce to top it with. Vanilla ice cream and/or whipped cream are optional, but highly recommended toppings also. Just saying.
The layers go unexpectedly well together and make the perfect dessert for Halloween or Thanksgiving. I’m even going to add these beauties to my Christmas dessert table this year. Enjoy! You deserve it.
Servings |
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- 1 1/2 cups (6 3/4 ounces) all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (3 1/4 ounces) brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup (6 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (8 ounces) canned pumpkin
- 2 eggs
- 6 tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 1/8 cup (8 ounces) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (2 1/8 ounces) Dutch-Process cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 cup (3 3/8 ounces) all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce, purchased or homemade warmed if desired
Ingredients
Crumb Topping
Pumpkin Cheesecake Layer
Brownie Layer
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- In a medium bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt.
- Cut in butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until well-combined and crumbles are pea-sized. Press crumbles together to make large quarter-sized chunks.
- Set aside in refrigerator.
- Preheat oven to 350º. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Add pumpkin, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg and beat until well combined. Set aside.
- Melt 1 stick of butter in a large microwaveable bowl.
- Stir in sugar until combined
- Stir in cocoa powder, vanilla, baking powder and salt.
- Add the eggs and beat until smooth
- Add the flour and mix until just combined.
- Spread brownie batter into prepared baking pan. Smooth with a spatula.
- Spread pumpkin cheesecake batter over the top of brownie batter. Smooth with a spatula.
- Sprinkle crumb topping evenly over the top of pumpkin cheesecake layer.
- Bake for 40-50 minutes until a toothpick inserted into pumpkin cheesecake layer comes out clean.
- Let cool completely. Cut into squares and serve with caramel sauce.