MILLION DOLLAR WINNER: Cream Cheese Brownie Pie

We’re back with another Million Dollar Winning recipe from Pillsbury’s Bake Off. This was the 2000 winning recipe, earning Ms. Roberta Sonefield of Hopkins, SC a lotta dough (pun intended) for winning this coveted baking contest. If you love chocolate though, this recipe is for you! Elegant looking but super easy with store bought ingredients, making this recipe a semi-homemade winner!

CREAM CHEESE BROWNIE PIE

Crust

1 box Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box

Cream Cheese Layer

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

3 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

Brownie Layer

1 box (15.8 oz) Pillsbury® double chocolate brownie mix

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon water

2 eggs

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Topping

Reserved chocolate syrup packet from brownie mix

3 tablespoons hot fudge topping

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Place pie crust in 9-inch glass pie plate as directed on box for One-Crust Filled Pie.

2. In medium bowl, beat cream cheese layer ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth; set aside.

3. Reserve chocolate syrup packet from brownie mix for topping. In large bowl, place brownie mix, oil, water and eggs; beat 50 strokes with spoon.

4. Spread 1/2 cup brownie mixture in bottom of crust-lined pie plate. Spoon and carefully spread cream cheese mixture over brownie layer. Top with small spoonfuls of remaining brownie mixture; spread evenly. Sprinkle with pecans. Cover crust edge with 2- to 3-inch-wide strips of foil to prevent excessive browning; remove foil during last 15 minutes of bake time.

5. Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until center is puffed and crust is golden brown (pie may have cracks on surface).

6. In small bowl, mix chocolate syrup from packet and hot fudge topping. Place mixture in small resealable bag. Cut small hole off corner of bag. Drizzle topping over pie. Cool completely, about 3 hours, before serving. Cover and refrigerate any remaining pie.