topic Re: Cream cheese icing in Recipes

Cream cheese icing

lovesrecess — Sun, 19 May 2019 21:38:12 GMT

A friend just gave us a large pan of brownies with cream cheese frosting....do I need to refrigerate these? You think they would freeze okay? I don’t even like cream cheese frosting so no way we will finish these very soon...

Re: Cream cheese icing

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 19 May 2019 21:47:43 GMT

@lovesrecess , I freeze just about everything and yes these will freeze just fine. If you do not like the frosting, just scrape it off! DH does not care for the type of frosting either, I like it, but in small doses.... way to sweet. Enjoy!

Re: Cream cheese icing

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 19 May 2019 22:07:37 GMT

I make cream cheese brownies all of the time (used to make them often).

I've always refrigerated them. I don't leave them out overnight or in the car. If they're sitting on the kitchen counter and it's not hot in the house, I've just let them sit there for a few hours.

If you think about it.....the cream cheese mixture (in the middle of my brownies) is cooked and I use Pillsbury canned icing.

So, why can't you leave on the counter for a few hours.

I'm normally over conscious when it comes to anything questionable. But with this I leave out for a few hours.

This is a favorite of all of my family (there are a lot of them when we get together). They've begged me to bring them and when I'd have a party I always had to make them.

I think people have to get past the fact that it's 'cream cheese' but it's not like people think.

The way I make them they have a zillion (not much exaggeration) calories in them though.

Re: Cream cheese icing

Drythe — Sun, 19 May 2019 22:37:48 GMT

@Annabellethecat66

Do you share recipes?

I’d love to have your’s if you do.

Re: Cream cheese icing

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 19 May 2019 23:06:12 GMT

@Drythe It's not some secret recipe. The trick is to make the right waves through the top part of the brownie cake so that they don't separate when you cut it into brownies.

I am totally going by memory. This used to be on the outside box of the brownie mix. I buy the larger size of the brownie mix. I think it's like 9X13 or something.

Instead of putting 2 eggs in the brownie mix I put in 3 whole eggs.

Mix up the brownie mix according to package but don't forget the extra egg. Put one layer on the bottom of a 9X13 pan (use 1/2 of the mix) (in the pan I always use the Betty Crocker stuff that you can buy at Michaels and JoAnn's with the party stuff. It's amazing and keeps everything from sticking and burning. I'll find it and post a picture of it.

So in another smaller bowel, put in the softened cream cheese (the larger size). Now comes the calories...put 1/2 cup of sugar in the mixture, and 2 whole eggs and 1 tsp (teaspoon) of vanilla (I only use real vanilla).

Now spread out the cream cheese mixture on top of the first half of the brownie mix in the pan, all of the cream cheese mixture.

After you do that, put the other half of the brownie mix on top of the cream cheese. Spread it around but leave a tiny bit from the edges (just a tiny bit so it will get a little hard) Some like it all soft so you might want to go to all of pan.

Now comes the tricky part. My friends have made this and they don't mix up the top part of the brownie mix with the bottom part. If you don't mix it right (too little it will come apart top and bottom) but if you do it too much, it will not have the cream cheese mixture like you want it).

I use a knife and swirl it around. Just do it and don't be afraid of overdoing it. I think that's what most people do, they don't swirl it enough so it separates.

I follow the cooking on the box. I test it by sticking toothpicks in it. It's a little tricky because the cream cheese will make it seem like it isn't done.

I believe the instructions are still on the boxes, but the difference is what I put in the cream cheese.

A total of 5 eggs (the extra on the brownie mix makes it more cake-like and the cream cheese mixture makes it sweeter and more taste of vanilla.

If you want it really good too. Use Almond (real) flavoring in cream cheese instead of vanilla. Some people don't like the almond flavoring.

For the icing, I just use the vanilla sweet icing. I don't use cream cheese icing on my brownies.

I have an amazing (sweet and zillions of calories) for banana cream (with cream cheese) pie with graham cracker crust (I buy the crust at the store).

I gave my youngest daughter my favorite Betty Crocker cookbook. It had hand written recipes in it.

The banana cream pie was at one time included with the graham cracker crust you'd buy. I tweaked it a bit. Oh! My it's sweet but it's so freaking good.

I apologize for the terrible instructions. As you can see I'm terrible at giving instructions for everything.

Believe me, after I'd give you instructions to anything you'd want to shoot yourself! Ha! Sorry!

Re: Cream cheese icing

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 19 May 2019 23:14:39 GMT

@Drythe Here's the non-stick stuff I was talking about. It's been some time since I bought it. When I bought it it came in a squeeze bottle.

I've only been able to find the spray can. Walmart, Michaels, JoAnn craft store also sells it. It's made by Wilton.

I also sometimes use parchment paper. I swear by those.

I'm not a very good cook, but when I do cook, it's pretty good if I say so myself! Ha!

Re: Cream cheese icing

Drythe — Sun, 19 May 2019 23:21:42 GMT

@Annabellethecat66

Thank you!

I always enjoy your posts. You and your DH seem to have had a special relationship.

This one made me HUNGRY! Have saved a copy and will make them soon.

Will have to FREEZE 1/2 of them. Beloved DH does not believe in leftovers!

Best to you.

CHEERS

Re: Cream cheese icing

deepwaterdotter — Sun, 19 May 2019 23:26:30 GMT

I make my cream cheese brownies similar to @Annabellethecat66 , with a layer of filling in the middle:

Filling:

8 oz room temperature cream cheese

2/3 cup sour cream

1/4 cup sugar

2 tbsp flour

Batter:

9 oz finely chopped semisweet chocolate

8 oz butter

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 1/3 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

Whip cream cheese with electric mixer until smooth. Mix in sour cream, sugar, and flour on medium speed.

Melt chocolate and butter in big, microwave-safe bowl on 50% power . Microwave in 1-minute intervals until smooth, stirring at end of each minute. Whisk in sugar, eggs, and vanilla until combined. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined (no dry streaks).

Spread 1/2 of batter in foil-lined and greased 9x13" baking pan (leave some foil hanging over rim of pan). Drop big spoonfuls of cream cheese filling over batter and spread into layer. Microwave remaining batter for 10 seconds and stir. Drizzle over cream cheese layer.

Bake for 35-40 minutes until toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. Completely cool in pan, then refrigerate for a couple hours. Lift brownies from pan with overhanging foil.

Re: Cream cheese icing

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 19 May 2019 23:38:38 GMT

@Drythe OMG! I almost (well I did) forget to tell you that in the cream cheese mixture be sure to put a few spoonfulls (maybe 3 or 4 tablespoons) of flour into the cream cheese. It will give it substance.

Special thanks to @deepwaterdotter because by reading her recipe it reminded me about the flour.

I'm sure that's all I forgot. I don't put sour cream in mine. I guess it's all in what you like.

Like I said, I'm not a great cook but what I do make people seem to really like.

I don't cook much at all anymore. It's just me and the cats.

Re: Cream cheese icing

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 19 May 2019 23:42:25 GMT

I don't know about you ladies but with my grandchildren (and some adults) if you say "Cream cheese brownies" people with wrinkle up their noses and say, "Ugh! I don't like cream cheese".

But the funny thing is it's not like they think it tastes. When they eat the brownies, they love them.

I'm going to make them maybe this week and take them over to my daughter's house. I guarantee you if she keeps her yap shut and doesn't call them 'cream cheese brownies' those teenagers will gulp them down in a minute. Ha!

Re: Cream cheese icing

deepwaterdotter — Sun, 19 May 2019 23:46:14 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 I find that the sour cream gives the filling more of a cheesecake-like consistency. Like you said, it's all in what you prefer to eat. Cream cheese brownies are a decadent treat no matter how they are made.

Re: Cream cheese icing

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 19 May 2019 23:55:48 GMT

I'll have to find that recipe for the banana cream cheese recipe. It's good and even more decadent than the cream cheese brownies.

I have an idea what goes into it. It's not 'brain surgery' but I almost forgot the flour in the other one....

I'll ask my daughter if she has the recipe. But if I know her, she'll swear she doesn't have it because she's too lazy to look for it....no wait! That's what my oldest daughter does, this is the youngest one! Ha!

I do remember that you take a pretty ripe banana and line the graham cracker crust bottom and sides with sliced bananas. I remember that you put the cream cheese stuffing in it but first put cinnamon and sugar mixture all over bananas in the bottom and sides.....

I'll have to look for the recipe because I'm driving myself and probably all of you crazy trying to remember the cream cheese filling....Ugh! Now I have a headache...if I've given you one...I apologize.

I'm going into the bedroom, eat a cream sickle and lay in bed and watch TV.

I need to find Bill the cat first. He eats the vanilla part of the cream sickle...He's a chubby booger like his momma.

Re: Cream cheese icing

deepwaterdotter — Mon, 20 May 2019 23:02:57 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 Found a recipe card with a former co-worker's recipe for Banana Cream Pie. I have never made this recipe, but could it be similar to the pie you are thinking of?:

1 cup flour

1/2 cup softened butter

1 cup finely chopped pecans

8 oz softened cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

12 oz Cool Whip

3 big bananas

5.1 oz package instant vanilla pudding mix

1 1/2 cups cold milk

Mix flour, butter, and pecans in bowl. Press into sides and bottom of greased 9" pie dish. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool.

Beat cream cheese and sugar with electric mixer until smooth. Fold in 1 cup Cool Whip. Spread over cooled crust. Slice bananas and place on top of cream cheese mixture.

Whisk pudding mix and milk in bowl to combine. Stir in rest of Cool Whip and spread on top of bananas. Refrigerate.

Re: Cream cheese icing

Sooner — Mon, 20 May 2019 14:07:42 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 wrote:
@Drythe Here's the non-stick stuff I was talking about. It's been some time since I bought it. When I bought it it came in a squeeze bottle.

I've only been able to find the spray can. Walmart, Michaels, JoAnn craft store also sells it. It's made by Wilton.

I also sometimes use parchment paper. I swear by those.

I'm not a very good cook, but when I do cook, it's pretty good if I say so myself! Ha!

@Annabellethecat66 I have also used King Arthur Flour's and Williams-Sonoma's versions of this and they work great as well! I've found all are better than the off-the-shelf version the grocery stores work. But then I haven't bought one of those in year's.

If you don't bake a lot these all last a long time.

Re: Cream cheese icing

Annabellethecat66 — Mon, 20 May 2019 21:19:18 GMT

@deepwaterdotter The one I remember just has large cream cheese block (softened), at least 2 bananas (ripe), sugar, cinnamon & Sugar mixture to sprinkle all over bottom on graham cracker/banana bottom and sides (put banana sliced up against sides of crust too and on bottom). 1 tsp of lemon juice, I think 1/3 cup of sugar, Mix until fluffy and no lumps, sugar, cream cheese, lemon juice. Pour mixture over bananas and cinnamon & sugar (that's been sprinkled). Slice bananas lengthwise around cream cheese mixture in a circle.

OK guys you see how terrible I am at giving directions. I just taste the cream cheese mixture and add whatever it needs AFTER I've put everything in it.

On the reverse side of the graham cracker crust you buy it has a similar recipe but I made up my own version with the bananas, etc.

I would think this time of year you could use strawberries. That would be good too.

In my version I use a lot of bananas (i.e. bottom and top) because my family loved it that way (plus it looks decorative the way I slice the bananas).

You guys are all better cooks and definitely better at giving directions and recipes! Ha!

This is a perfect example of how terrible I am at directions. I totally apologize. So now, who wants to take a road trip? Ha! You might not make it there but you'd have fun!

My grandkids joke about 'road trips with grandma'. We end up in the right place but never get there the same way!

Re: Cream cheese icing

BeccaLou — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 03:48:42 GMT

@lovesrecess Maybe you could find someone to share these with so they won't go to waste. Maybe try one maybe these would be better than anything you've tried before.

Re: Cream cheese icing

Nightowlz — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 18:09:30 GMT

DH makes cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting. He leaves them in the pan on the counter? Never thought I should put them in the refrigerator. LOL!!!