Oreo Cheesecake Brownies

Oreo cookie crust

1. Melt 5 tablespoons of the butter and set it aside to cool a bit while you prepare the pan.
2. Heat your oven to 350℉ and butter your baking pan. Or line your pan with parchment paper and butter the paper.
3. Add 22 of the 26 Oreos to a food processor or a large bowl, and pulverize them to a powder. Then, with the motor running, add the melted butter through the feed tube until fully mixed.
4. Press the Oreo cookie crumbs into the prepared pan as firmly as you can. Remove any clips you might have used to hold the parchment in place and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the pan to let cool but leave the oven on.

Fudgy brownie batter

1. While the Oreo crust is cooking, melt the remaining 8 tablespoons of butter with the chocolate in a double boiler or heat-proof bowl over a small pot of water. Set aside to cool.
2. In a small bowl, sift or whisk together your cup of flour, black cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Set this aside as well.
3. In a medium to large size mixing bowl, beat together the sugar and two eggs until the mixture is lightened. Add one teaspoon of vanilla and beat to incorporate.
4. Gradually beat in the cooled chocolate and melted butter mixture.
5. Then add in the dry ingredients, mixing on low speed until just incorporated. Set the bowl of brownie batter aside while you make the cream cheese topping for the brownies.

Cream cheese topping

1. In small to medium mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese for a few minutes, then add the egg and teaspoon of vanilla and beat until smooth.
2. Add the flour and salt and beat for another minute.

Oreo cheesecake brownies

1. When the pan with the Oreo crust is no longer hot, add in the brownie layer, making sure it covers the entire Oreo crust .
2. Pour the cream cheese topping over the brownie layer and use a knife or spatula to swirl the cheesecake and brownie layers together. Be careful not to go all the way down to the Oreo crust.
3. Chop the remaining four Oreos, sprinkle them across the top of the cheesecake brownie, and press them down gently with the palm of your hand.
4. Bake for 30 minutes, then cover the pan loosely with foil. Bake for about 10 minutes more, until a toothpick inserted into the Oreo cheesecake brownies comes out with only a few moist crumbs.
5. Let cool completely in the pan, then lift out the parchment, and cut into 16 Oreo cheesecake brownie bars.