For those who yearn for something tasty on Valentine’s Day this year, indulge a little and bake this simple dessert as a gift to your sweetheart, your roommate, or for yourself. 

Ingredients:

For the brownies:

1 box red velvet cake mix

½ cup butter (1 stick), melted

1 large egg

1 tablespoon water

For the cream cheese topping:

8 ounces of cream cheese (1 package), softened

1 large egg

¼ cup sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish.

2. Beat together the cake mix, butter, egg, and water until well combined. Dough-like batter will be very thick. Spread and press the batter into the prepared pan. Soften the cream cheese in a microwave for 15 seconds or longer if needed.

3. Beat together the cream cheese, egg, sugar, and vanilla extract until well combined. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto the doughy brownie batter.

4. Bake brownies for 10 minutes. Then remove from the oven and run a knife through the dough to swirl the cheesecake mixture. Return to the oven and continue baking for 25 minutes or until set.

5. Cool completely before cutting.

6. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The recipe makes 12 brownies.

Adapted from http://www.foodfanatic.com/2013/02/red-velvet-cheesecake-brownies-perfect-for-valentines-day/

Elizabeth DeCicco can be reached at [email protected]