Created by JoanWagnerTeller on October 28, 2017
Step 1: Have all ingredients at room temperature by leaving them out of the refrigerator for up to an hour.
Step 2: Melt chocolate and 3 tablespoons of the butter, stirring constantly. Cool.
Step 3: To make the cheese mixture, cream remaining butter with Neufchâtel cheese until softened.
Step 4: Gradually add 1/6 cup of sugar, creaming until light and fluffy. Stir in 1 egg, 1 tablespoon of flour, and ½ teaspoon vanilla until blended.
Step 5: To make the chocolate batter, beat remaining eggs until fluffy and light in color.
Step 6: Gradually beat in the ½ cup sugar, beating until thickened.
Step 7: Stir in the baking powder, salt, and remaining ½ cup of flour.
Step 8: Blend in the cooled chocolate mixture.
Step 9: Stir in the remaining 1 teaspoon of vanilla, the optional nuts, and optional almond extract.
Step 10: Spread ½ of the chocolate batter in a greased 8"x8" (or 9"x9") pan.
Step 11: Spread the cheese mixture over the top.
Step 12: Drop the remaining chocolate batter from a tablespoon over the top, swirl with spatula just to marble.
Step 13: Bake at 350' 35-40 minutes.
Step 14: Cool in pan, then cut into 20 pieces, 2"x1½" pieces.