Brownie Cheesecake Bars (Mascarpone)

Cream cheese may be substituted for mascarpone; the topping will be dense and tangy, instead of mellow and creamy. If using cream cheese, reduce baking time by 10 minutes.

4 Tbsp. butter
¾ cup all-purpose flour, unbleached
¾ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. sea salt
6 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
5 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 ⅓ cups sugar
1½ tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 lb mascarpone cheese

Heat oven to 350°F (180°C/160°C fan, Gas Mark 4). Butter a 9x13” baking pan, and line with parchment.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt, and set aside. In the top of a barely simmering double boiler, melt together chocolate and butter. Remove from heat.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat together 3 eggs and 1 cup sugar on high speed until thick and fluffy, about 5 minutes. On low speed, add reserved chocolate mixture and 1 tsp. vanilla extract. When combined, add flour mixture. Stir until just combined. Spread mixture evenly into prepared pan. Set aside.

In the clean bowl of the electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together mascarpone cheese, remaining eggs and yolks, remaining sugar, and remaining vanilla on medium speed, until smooth. Pour over chocolate mixture.

Bake until cheese mixture is golden and set, about 35 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into about sixty 1x1½” pieces.

Makes about 5 dozen.