Pistachio Kunafa Cream Cheese Brownies (with Vanilla)

Ingredients:

Brownie Base:
200g Dark chocolate
150g Unsalted butter
180g Caster sugar
80g Brown sugar
3 large eggs
2 tsp Vanilla extract
120g Plain flour
30g Cocoa powder
A pinch of salt

Cream Cheese & Kunafa Layer:
200g Cream cheese
50g Icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
120g Kunafa pastry, finely chopped
60g melted unsalted butter
120g Pistachio paste
For garnish – chopped pistachios

Method:

• Melt the dark chocolate and butter together until smooth and glossy; set aside to cool slightly.
• Whisk in both sugars, then beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla.
• Fold in the flour, cocoa powder and salt until just combined.
• In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese with icing sugar and vanilla until creamy.
• Toss the kunafa pastry with melted butter and fold through the pistachio paste.
• Pour the brownie batter into a lined tin, smoothing the surface. Layer the cream cheese mixture, then the pistachio kunafa on top. Lightly swirl for a marbled effect.
• Bake at 170°C (fan) for 35–40 minutes until set but still fudgy. Cool completely, then slice and garnish with chopped pistachios.