A Better-For-You Swap - Indulge Your Sweet Tooth This Holiday Season

There's good news: Baking doesn't have to be hard when you make simple swaps and use ingredients that keep things easy. Try adding fresh produce to a boxed brownie mix in these Sweetpotato Cheesecake Brownies for an "in between" recipe that satisfies your sweet tooth without the hassle.

Plus, it offers a better-for-you twist as the sweetness from mashed Sweetpotatoes can replace some of the sugar needed to bake regular brownies. Sweetpotatoes are rich in Vitamins, Minerals, Antioxidants and Fiber, all of which are good for overall health in this natural sweetener.

While you're sharing this newfound favorite dessert with loved ones, you can also share this fun fact: "Sweetpotato" is deliberately spelled as one word by the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission. The Sweetpotato and White Potato are two distinct species representing two different plant families, and the one-word spelling helps correctly distinguish the two.

Give these better-for-you treats a try and find more delicious desserts and other creative ways to use Sweetpotatoes at: https://ncsweetpotatoes.com

Sweetpotato Cheesecake Brownies
Recipe courtesy of the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission
Servings: 16

Brownie Layer:
Floured baking spray
1 18.2 Ounce Package of Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownie mix
3/4 Cup of Mashed Sweetpotato, cooled
1/4 Cup of Vegetable Oil
1/4 Cup of Water
1 Egg

Cheesecake Layer:
1 8 Ounce Package of Reduced-Fat Cream Cheese
3/4 Cup of mashed Sweetpotato, cooled
1/2 Cup of Granulated Sugar
1 Egg
1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
1/4 Cup of Miniature Chocolate Chips

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spray a 9-by-9-inch square pan with the Floured Baking Spray.

To prepare the Brownie Layer: In a medium bowl, stir the Brownie mix, the Sweetpotato, the Oil, the Water and the Egg until they are blended. Spread the Batter in the bottom of the prepared pan.

To prepare the Cheesecake Layer: Using an electric mixer, beat the Cream Cheese until it is smooth. Add the mashed Sweetpotato, the Sugar, the Egg and the Vanilla; mix until it is well blended. Spread the Cheese mixture over the Brownie Batter.

Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted comes out almost clean. Remove it from the oven and cool it for 15 minutes. Sprinkle the surface with the Chocolate Chips and cool it completely. Remove it from the pan and serve it.

Substitution: Use Coconut Sugar in place of Granulated Sugar.