Easy Groovy Pumpkin Cheesecake Marbled Brownies

I've realized that I am a lazy baker.  That's the reason that I like kids crafts. They're easy and there's little pressure to make things perfect.  The act of making is the fun!  But baking?  Ugh. Completely other story. Exact measurements.  Specific ingredients.  And gluten-free baking?  (My eldest is allergic to wheat.)  Double ugh.  Forget about it.  It feels like I never have the right ingredients or flours...

So it's the holiday season and recently we were invited to Friendsgiving dinner.  I volunteered to bring a dessert... which seemed like a good idea because I wouldn't have to be in charge of the heavy cooking... But then I realized... eek! I only have 3 desserts in my current potluck repertoire- Rice Krispie treats, some variant of mochi cake, and boxed brownies.  Well, the brownies seemed to be the only viable option for this meal.  But I had just made my brownies a week ago so I figured I should at least jazz up my efforts somehow... and that's when I decided to try making something new:

Groovy Pumpkin Cheesecake Marbled Brownies

(They're so puuuuuurty?)

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So here's how you too can make a pretty-looking dessert (without having to do too much baking... muah ha ha!  Lazy bakers of the world, unite!)

Let's bake!

1. Grab a box mix.  Mix your brownies according to your box mix and pour it into a pan.

Two notes:

• We usually get this gluten-free brownix mix.  It's our favorite and people always say they can't tell that the brownies are gluten-free.  For this particular batch, I tried Trader Joe's kind.  It worked, but it was a bit too fudgy for my liking.
• I also use this pan-lining paper so clean up a breeze.  Everything just slides out and I'm left with a clean pan.  

2.  Make the Pumpkin and Cream Cheese swirl following step 2 from these directions.

Note: Her recipe easily made enough for 2 boxes of brownie mix.  If you're only baking one box, just halve it.

3.  Draw straight lines with your pumpkin and cream cheese liquids.

(See my uneven blobs?  It's ok!  The nice part about this recipe is that the lines DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT. Phew.  What a relief.)

4.  Run a knife perpendicular to your lines.

(Step back and enjoy your instant artistry.  But warning, don't over swirl!  You'll want to go for it, girl, but hold yourself back.)

5.  Bake according to your box mix directions.  Then, enjoy your groovy swirled treat.

Happy holidays, friends!