I once made a big brownie pie, the size of a pizza, spread with sweetened cream cheese and adorned with fresh fruit. Our oldest daughter couldn’t have been more than 3 years old, I’m surprised she even remembers it. But when I asked her what she wanted for her birthday cake this year, she said, “that brownie pie with the cream cheese, it was soooooo good Mom!”
After having so much fun with the brownie heart sandwiches for Valentine’s Day, I decided to make Fudgy Mini Brownie Fruit Pies with Almond Cream Cheese. And I just happened to do a test run on March 13th, the day before Pi Day…which turned out pretty well for Hatti’s classmates when she brought in these mini brownie fruit pies to celebrate Pi(e)!
These brownies are fudgy and delicious, everything a good brownie should be. We topped them with almond (one of Hatti’s favorite flavors) cream cheese and fresh fruit that Hatti hand selected from the grocery store. They make just the most perfect birthday treat!
How can it be that our little girl is already 10 years old?!
What a joy you are, Hatti girl.
We love you so much.
Happy, Happy Birthday!
Fudgy Mini Brownie Fruit Pies with Almond Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- for the brownies:
- ½ c. unsalted butter diced
- 3 oz. unsweetened chocolate chopped
- 1.5 c. sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp. instant espresso powder
- 1.5 tsp. vanilla
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ¾ c. flour
- for the almond cream cheese:
- 12 oz. cream cheese at room temperature
- 4 T. unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 tsp. almond extract
- 1.5 c. sifted powdered sugar
- for the fruit:
- Use any whole or cut fruit that you like just be sure it’s fresh, tasty, and beautiful!
Instructions
for the brownies:
- Preheat oven to 325° F.
- Fold a long piece of heavy foil into a 13" wide strip and fit it inside a 9" x 13" metal baking pan, leaving foil overhang on the 2 long sides. Spray the foil with nonstick spray.
- Stir the butter and chocolate in a large heavy saucepan over very low heat until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat and whisk in the sugar, and then the eggs, 1 at a time. Whisk in espresso powder, vanilla, and salt. Then sift the flour over the chocolate mixture and stir to blend well. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
- Bake brownies until slightly puffed and dry-looking and tester inserted into center comes out with some moist batter attached, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on rack.
- Run a knife around the inside edge of the brownie pan. Use the overhanging foil as an aid and gently lift the brownies from the pan. The pan I used produces a brownie that is 1/2" thick. Be sure your cookie cutter is taller than 1/2". Press round biscuit cutter (mine was 2-1/4” in diameter) firmly into the cooled brownie. Use a thin metal spatula to lift the cookie cutter filled with brownie from the foil. Gently press the brownie out of the biscuit cutter. Repeat the cutting process until your brownie looks like a big piece of swiss cheese. (And I hope you’re eating up some of those brownie scraps!)
for the almond cream cheese:
- Beat together the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Add almond extract and beat to combine. Slowly add sifted powdered sugar, beating well to remove any lumps.
- Using a pastry bag fitted with a large plain round tip, pipe almond cream cheese onto each brownie round. I did a little bit of this and a little bit of that…just pipe it on in the design(s) of your choice.
for the fruit:
- Use both whole and cut fruits, depending on size. Decorate in the design(s) of your choice.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
The colors just pop on these brownies. Almost too pretty to eat. And Happy Birthday to Hatti. She’s adorable. (And, yes, mom, those little girls grow up too fast.)
Thank you, Audrey. :)
These look delicious and SO pretty!
Your recipes always look so beautiful and delicious!
Thank you so much, Jen!
My middle daughter turns 10 in a couple weeks, I know she would love those too! Thanks for sharing!!
These look just fabulous- awesome birthday treats for a special birthday!
I remember turning 10. It was a big moment for me :) Your little girl is so pretty, and she will get prettier each year. Man, I feel weird saying this because I’m only 8 years older, but still, it’s the truth.
These mini brownies look amazing. And the sound of almond cream cheese frosting has my mouth watering. I love the taste and smell of almond!
Thanks, Becca. Strangely, I remember turning 10, too. Mostly because I was finally allowed to get my ears pierced! :)
They grow so fast, it’s killing me!!! She’s gorgeous, and so are her birthday treats!
I know! I obviously want to see our children grow and thrive, but a part of me wants to just make time stand still! Thanks, Julia.
Happy birthday to your daughter! These minis are almost as adorable as she is beautiful. I love how the fruit lights these up with color like they were decorated with fancy frosting (only healthier)! They’re elegant – for a party or even a wedding reception! Thanks for this post. I’m going to make these for my mom’s birthday coming up. :)
You’re so right, Cindy. These are incredibly versatile. I already have a couple events I’m planning to use them for again. Hope you and your mom like them!
I want these for MY birthday!!!
I’ll make a trade with you. My mini brownie fruit pies for your exquisitely decorated cookies? Have you ever done Wonder Woman? She’s my favorite. ;)
Happy Birthday Hattie! You are a beautiful girl with a smile that can light up a room (and a blog post). I love your Mom’s brownie fruit pies and I think they are the perfect dessert for a very special birthday celebration.
Thank you, my dear Paula. xo
That does look absolutley divine! Happy Birthday to your daughter as well, her name is awesome (its mine as well so I am biased!!!)
Thank you, Harriet! So is “Hatti” a version of Harriet that you actually use? My grandma’s name is Henrietta, which was not why we named our daughter that, but knew that “Hatti” was a spin-off of Henrietta.
That is so strange, I was named after a Henrietta as well! My mothers grandmother. I don’t use ‘Hatti’ but my friends have been known to call me ‘Hatty’ in the past but mostly Harriet. Or of my housemate has his way ‘oi Hazza!’ ha!
Love this, Harriet! :)
What a special treat for Hatti. Doesn’t surprise me that she remembered the fruit pizza! The Brownie Fruit Pies are so colorful and yummy looking. Makes me hungry just looking at them.
We’re planning to make them again when you come to celebrate birthdays, yay!
I love the look of these! I want to try to make them soon!
So cute and delicious looking! What are you making for my birthday?! :D By the way, almond cream cheese topping is the best idea I have heard in quite a while.
The almond cream cheese is def the kicker! :)
I love brownie fruit pizza but these are adorable being sing-servings. And I bet that almond cream cheese is tasty.
Sure is tasty! I love almond flavoring along with fruit and chocolate…this recipe ties it all together. Yum!
Love the cute brownie pies!!! So colorful too! Happy Birthday to the lovely young lady :)
Thank you, Ambika! :)
Happy birthday, Hatti! She is so sweet! I would love these for my birthday, Brenda, I love the fresh fruit!
Thank you, Cassie! :)
Those brownie pies are just beautiful, and they look incredibly delicious, too. Happy birthday to your sweet girl!
Thanks, Natalie, I passed along your birthday greeting!
I need this…amazing!
These are totally adorable!