Broadway Brownie Bars

broadwaybrowniebars These little gems were named Broadway because they're a hit every time you serve them. I especially like to make them as a gift for anyone with a sweet tooth.

Filling:
6 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup sugar
¼ cup butter, softened
2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour, unbleached
1 large egg, room temperature, lightly beaten
½ tsp. pure vanilla extract

Brownie:
½ cup butter, cubed
1 oz unsweetened chocolate
2 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour, unbleached
1 tsp. baking powder
1 cup walnuts, chopped

Topping:
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
¼ cup walnuts, chopped
2 cups miniature marshmallows

Frosting:
¼ cup butter
¼ cup 2% milk
2 oz cream cheese
1 oz unsweetened chocolate
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C/160°C fan, Gas Mark 4). Grease a 9x13" baking pan coated with butter or cooking spray.

In a small bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients until smooth; set aside.

In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and chocolate. Remove from the heat and let cool. Stir in eggs and vanilla. Add sugar, flour, baking powder and nuts, stirring until blended.

Spread batter in prepared pan. Spread filling over batter.

For the Topping:
In small bowl, combine chocolate chips and nuts; sprinkle over filling.

Bake until almost set, about 28 minutes. Sprinkle with marshmallows; bake 2 minutes longer.

For the Frosting:
In a large saucepan, heat butter, milk, cream cheese and chocolate until melted, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat; stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Immediately drizzle over marshmallows. Chill well; cut into bars.

Makes 2½ dozen.

Cook's Notes:

Chop or crumble leftover bars and stir into softened ice cream.
For easy removal of bars, line your pan with foil, letting the ends extend up the sides of the pan. Then use the foil to lift the cooled bars.

Nutritional information:
1 brownie: 271 calories, 15g fat (7g saturated fat), 46mg cholesterol, 108mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (26g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.