Ginger-licious Carrot Brownies with Cream Cheese Swirl

                         Sounds crazy? Maybe. :)

                        But it's time for February's Improv Challenge! Our two ingredients this month were ginger and carrots. It's the month of chocolate - so when you combine the two: voila! Ginger-licious Carrot Brownies :D

                       It was a risky idea but I think it payed off!

                       Hey, if they can put beans in their brownies - I can put carrots in mine!


Ginger-licious Carrot Brownies with Cream Cheese Swirl

1/3 c cocoa powder
1/2 c + 2 Tbsp boiling water
3 oz. semisweet chocolate or chocolate chips
1/4 c or 1/2 stick of butter, melted
1/2 c + 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 c granulated sugar
1/2 c cooked, pureed and cooled baby carrots
1 tsp ground ginger
1 3/4 c all-purpose flour
dash of salt
1/2 pkg ( 4 oz. ) cream cheese, softened
1 egg white
3 Tbsp granulated sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Line a 9" x 13" dish with foil, leaving it overhanging on the shorter sides.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together cocoa and boiling water. Add the chocolate and whisk until it's melted and smooth. Do not lick the whisk - it's hot!
Add the melted butter and oil and whisk again.
Add the eggs, egg yolks, pureed carrots, vanilla extract and, yep, whisk again. :)
Add sugar - whisk.
Now switch to a spatula or a wooden spoon and stir in the flour, ginger and salt.
Pour the brownie batter into the prepared baking dish. Set aside.
In a small mixing bowl, mix the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the egg white and sugar and mix for about 2 minutes.
Spoon the cream cheese mixture onto your batter and stir it in gently to create the marbling effect.
Bake 30 minutes. It will be gooey in the middle, but it will set during cooling.
Cool completely before cutting.

inspired by Cook's Illustrated via  Brown Eyed Baker

Marbled brownie top :)

              These brownies smell amazing right after being baked, therefore it's veeeeeery hard to wait for them to cool before digging in. But to experience the flavors in their full potential - I recommend waiting at least 1 hr before cutting them. They still will be gooey! But oh-so-delicious! :)

             If you are interested in joining the Improv Challenge, contact Kristen of Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker.
            Do not forget to visit my fellow bloggers who also took part in this month's challenge! You can find links to their posts below.


Enjoy!