Living Dolls and Red Velvet Cream Cheese Brownies

I don’t know if anyone else remembers a doll that came out years and years ago that reveled its gender only after purchase, kind of imitating the real life gender surprise at birth. I recall when I was small that they sat on the shelves beckoning me every time I went into a department store and I begged Mutti for one. I had never had anything but girl dolls before but I desperately wanted one of these dolls, it came with a dissolvable package that revealed the birth certificate and gender of your baby. I of course was adamant that despite the dolls androgynous features I could pick the girl dolls and I remember Mutti trying to reason with me that I may get a boy doll and I couldn’t give it back. After some careful consideration…..maybe a whole day of thought….. I decided I could indeed cope if I got a boy doll, although I was still sure I would get a little girl. Some time later mum let me pick a doll, I got it home dissolved the little package and it revealed I had a bouncing baby boy! I was horrified 😦 I refused to pick him up or play with him at first and I think I might even have cried.  I came to love him, I named him after an uncle, but I never felt the same fondness.

Aren’t they pretty!

 

A new little girl was introduced into the world a couple of weeks ago and I am completely ecstatic. I won’t lie, I basically jumped around after I heard the news and told people I had a living doll to dress, before promptly going out and buying clothes for her. I love the little men that my friends have so kindly brought into the world so I can practice my car sounds and force cuddles on them, but there is just something so exciting about a little girl. Little girls open a whole new world of sugar and spice and all things nice 🙂

In honour of the new little princess I made a slice which I thought was appropriately girlie and completely delicious. I also figured it would give poor mum some sweet treats to keep up her energy or bribe her toddler (or husband) with.

They are no greater work than a usual brownie. The only amendment I made to the original recipe was to make a double batch and use a different shade of food colouring. They are by far the most moist and moreish brownie I have ever made and they didn’t last long.

Red Velvet and Cream Cheese Brownie

adapted (only slightly) from Sweet Pea’s Kitchen

 

• 1 cup of butter
• 110 gms of dark chocolate
• 2 cup sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tsp of vanilla extract
• 3 tsp of rose pink colouring
• 1 1/2 cup of plain flour
• 1/2 tsp of salt

Cream Cheese Topping

• 450 gms of cream cheese
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 large egg
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract

1. Pre heat oven to 180 degrees

2. Grease an aluminium roasting tray, line if you are using a non disposable baking tray

3. Microwave the butter and chocolate in a bowl until melted and combined

4. In a seperate bowl whisk together eggs, sugar, vanilla extract and pink food colouring.

Prior to adding chocolate the mixture is bright pink

5. Add the chocolate and butter mixture to the egg mixture and stir to combine

6. Add flour and salt and stir to combine completely

7. Pour into baking dish. Bang the dish a couple of time on the bench top to release any bubbles

8. Beat together the ingredients for the topping until smooth and then layer on top of the brownie and using a knife swirl the topping in with the brownie mixture.

9. Bake for 40 mins or until sides are slightly crisp but centre is just set. Leave to completely cool before cutting