Howdy!  I hope everyone is having a great Labor Day weekend!

This is one of those last-minute holiday weekend dessert recipes that is easy and effortless, so you don’t have to labor too much in your kitchen if you’re in charge of dessert making at your picnic today.  It’s a bounce-off-the-walls kinda brownie since there’s a good bit of chocolate in it, so if your child wants one, feed him or her a small slice…LOL!

Now I’m gonna go sneak in a piece of brownie and run it off by chasing my kid around the house, then crash and enjoy the rest of the day off.

Enjoy!! XOXO

LABORLESS LABOR DAY BROWNIES

1 cup (2 sticks) softened margarine
3 oz. of cream cheese, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
¾ cup cocoa powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
10 oz. pkg. (1 2/3 cups) semi-sweet chocolate chip morsels*

Chocolate Frosting:
3 tablespoons softened margarine
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 1/3 cups powdered sugar
¾ teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoons milk

*Preheat oven to 325 degrees, and grease the bottom and sides of a 9×13-inch baking dish with a non-stick cooking spray.
* In a mixer bowl, beat margarine, cream cheese and sugar until fluffy.
* Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
* In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking powder.
* Gradually add flour mixture to the wet ingredients until blended. Stir in the chocolate chips.
* Spread brownie batter into the prepared baking dish, and bake for 35-40 minutes until the brownie begins to pull away from the sides of the pan. Also be sure you test the center of the brownie with a toothpick. If it‘s too moist, put it back in the oven for another 5 minutes until the center sets up a little more.
* Let the brownie cool completely in the pan before frosting.

* For the frosting: In a small mixer bowl, beat margarine and cocoa powder until blended. Gradually add the powdered sugar and  vanilla. Add the milk, beating to spreading consistency. Spread frosting all over the top of your brownie, and cut to serve.