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Friday, March 6, 2009

Chocolate Orange Cheesecake Squares

I made these so I had something to give to my sister because she was kind enough to watch Van while we took Jack to the Brigham Young University vs. University of Utah men's basketball game. We didn't go because we are alumni, we just wanted to take Jack to a basketball game because we thought he would enjoy it.

Oh, he did. He cheered and yelled and booed.

"Get the ball you moron!"


"Make a shot or I'll put you in jail!"

"I HATE the red team!"

The child is very passionate and all-boy. The other day, he was saying prayers and it went something like this.

"Thank you for really real guns so that I can shoot people."


Do I worry? Slightly. I just hope that he will not be the mass murderer that he aspires to be someday.



These cheesecake squares are more chocolaty than cheesy. I like cheesecake, but not if there is more cheese than cake. Ever had Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake ice cream? It is WAY too cheesy for my gusta. These are not and that is precisely why they didn't last long in my house.



1 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 orange, zested and divided
1/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup chopped pecans
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Set oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 inch square pan with non-stick spray and set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and half of the orange zest. Mix to combine. Add shortening and cut into coarse crumbs using a pastry blender or two butter knives. Mix in pecans. Reserve 3/4 cup and press the rest into the bottom of the 9 inch pan. Bake for 10 minutes.

In another medium bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar. Using a hand mixer, beat until fluffy. Add cocoa powder, milk, egg, vanilla and then remaining half of the orange zest. Mix until smooth. Pour over warm crust. Sprinkle remaining 3/4 cup of the crust mix on top. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Cool completely and then cut into squares. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

7 comments:

Cheryl said...

I hate the red team too! Ok I'm not as into sports as Jack is but he is so cute! I must meet him in person some time. Your writing about him always makes me laugh! Thank you Jack for being you!

Melanie said...

Too funny about your little sports' fan. My kids are famous for yelling out mean things to the "stinkin' Utes" even though their father graduated with his MBA from there. Oh well.

These cheesecake squares look fantastic - I love cheesecake and this is a lovely way to change it up from the ordinary.

cat+tadd=sam said...

What a fantastic all-boy you have.

MamaDonna said...

Don't worry about the guns thing. Cadence went through a phase of wanting to kill people. Not understanding the word of course. It came from playing video games with Daddy. During Halloween, I took her to a Halloween store and she picked up a plastic double sided axe and started swinging it around and yelling that she was killing people. Everyone was starting at us. Oh the shame.....

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Chocolate and orange are divine together. I can just imagine how scrumptious they were.

Shar said...

Your little boy sounds hilarious!

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Oh, my goodness you're in for it. I remember what you said about him, saying something about Jesus or God getting the wrestler if he didn't win? LOL!