Muriel Ledeboer, of Oostburg, Wisconsin, provides this tasty brownie cocoa powder recipe. The base, with layers of cream cheese and chocolate pudding, make this a scrumptious make-ahead dessert. There are 36 other cocoa powder recipes, including cookies, cakes, brownies, and more, found here.
Total Time: Prep: 20 min. Bake: 20 min. + chilling
Makes: 12-15 servings
Ingredients
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup baking cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• FILLING:
• 11 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 2 cups whipped topping
• TOPPING:
• 2 cups cold whole milk
• 1 package (3.9 ounces) instant chocolate pudding mix
• Whipped topping and chopped walnuts
Directions
• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder; add to creamed mixture just until moistened. Fold in nuts.
• Transfer to a greased 13×9-in. baking pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs, 20-25 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Fold in whipped topping; spread over brownies.
• In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix 2 minutes. Let stand until soft-set, about 2 minutes. Spread over filling. Refrigerate 1 hour or until serving.
• Cut into squares; garnish with whipped topping and nuts.
Originally published as Layered Brownie Dessert in Holiday & Celebrations Cookbook 2004