Chocolate & Vanilla for Valentine's Day

People are constantly looking for inexpensive, meaningful ways to recognize their colleagues and loved ones – whether it is a co-worker, boss, parent or friend. Home-baked treats are the perfect alternative to costly gifts, but many home bakers feel they lack the skills to create delicious desserts. Sarah Levy, Chicago Pastry Chef and owner of Sarah’s Pastries & Candies, gives tips, instructions and advice in her new cookbook, Sweetness.

Sweetness is lined page after page with delectable treats, many featuring the classic dessert ingredient – vanilla. Vanilla is featured in recipes such as Mom’s Almond Moon Cookies, Amy’s Amazing Carrot Cupcakes and Vanilla Bean Chocolate Truffles.

Sarah recommends her hometown vanilla specialist, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas. “Vanilla extract is simply indispensable. I just love the Nielsen-Massey brand,” Levy said.

Nielsen-Massey uses a proprietary cold extraction process which gently coaxes the maximum flavor possible from the beans. The result is a sweet, creamy, mellow Pure Vanilla that is an excellent ingredient for general cooking and baking

Nielsen-Massey is headquartered in Waukegan, Illinois, which makes Nielsen-Massey and Levy a perfect match.

Rafael’s Righteous Cream Cheese Brownies
Courtesy of Sweetness cookbook

2 sticks (16 T) unsalted butter, warmed to room temperature
¾ cup unsweetened chocolate (Sarah recommends Valrhona or Callebaut)
3 cups, divided Granulated sugar
½ cup all-purpose flour, sifted
6 large, divided whole eggs, warmed to room temperature
¼ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (Sarah recommends Nielsen-Massey brand)
2 ½ packages (1 LB 4oz) cream cheese, warmed to room temperature

Preheat oven to 300ºF.
Melt together the butter and chocolate in a double boiler or microwave. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Using a whisk, blend 2 cups of sugar and the salt into the chocolate-butter mixture.
Slowly add 4 of the eggs to the mixture, 1 at a time.
In 3 separate batches, add in the flour.
Add the vanilla.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a mixing bowl (if using a hand mixer), beat together the cream cheese and remaining 1 cup sugar until smooth (about 2 minutes), and then add the remaining 2 eggs, 1 at a time. (For the step, it is best to use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, but you can use a regular mixing bowl and a hand mixer if necessary.)
Measure out 1 ½ cups of the chocolate mixture and set aside to use as a topping.
Pour the remaining chocolate mixture into the greased 9 x 13-inch pans.
Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of the chocolate mixture.
Fill the piping bag fitted with the #804 tip with the reserved chocolate mixture. Pipe lines along the width of the brownies, about 1 inch apart.
Run the paring knife through the length of the brownies (in the opposite direction of the piped lines you created), creating a pretty streaking effect. You can also use the knife to make “swirls” of whatever design you would like.
Bake at 300ºF for 60 minutes. Cool completely in the pans. After they cool completely at room temperature, refrigerate them in the pans for at least 4 to 5 hours before slicing.

Makes about 36 brownies

About Sweetness
Sarah Levy has been making great-tasting treats her whole life – and since 2005, when she opened her first shop in Chicago, she’s been sharing her love for great baked goods, candies and other sweets with the world. Now, in her first book, she’s bringing her expertise to home bakers who hunger to make their own bakery-quality treats. Sarah's warm personality, step-by-step instructions and vibrant color photos make this the perfect addition to the bookshelf of both budding chefs and seasoned pros.

About Nielsen-Massey Vanillas
Throughout its more than 100-year history, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas has earned its reputation as a manufacturer of the finest extracts in the world. The full line of Nielsen-Massey’s Pure Vanilla products include: Vanilla Beans and Extracts from Madagascar, Tahiti and Mexico; sugar and alcohol-free Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder; Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste; Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar and Certified Organic Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract, Vanilla Beans and Powder.

Nielsen-Massey Vanillas also carries a line of Pure Flavors: Pure Chocolate Extract, Pure Almond Extract, Pure Orange Extract, Pure Lemon Extract, Pure Coffee Extract, Pure Peppermint Extract, Orange Blossom Water and Rose Water. All Nielsen-Massey products are certified Kosher and gluten-free. The company is headquartered in Waukegan, Illinois, with production facilities in Waukegan and Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.