There's no time like All Hallows Eve to bake a festive batch of pumpkin cheesecake swirl brownies. For bigger hits of chocolate goodness, use chopped bittersweet chocolate in place of the chips. And hold on to the leftover pumpkin puree -- it's yummy stirred into your morning oatmeal or yogurt.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl Brownies

Serves 16

Serving size: one 2-inch brownie each

Active Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

For the brownie layer:

2/3 cup white whole-wheat flour or all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 large eggs

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1/4 cup canola oil

1/4 cup canned pumpkin puree

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

For the cheesecake layer:

4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, at room temperature

1 large egg

1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree

3 tablespoons light brown sugar

1 tablespoon white whole-wheat flour or all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line an 8-inch-square baking pan with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides (trim the two opposite sides, if desired). Lightly coat with cooking spray.

To prepare brownie layer: Whisk flour, cocoa, salt and cinnamon in a small bowl. Beat eggs, brown sugar, oil, pumpkin and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and beat on low speed just until well blended, scraping down the sides.

To prepare cheesecake layer: Clean the beaters. Beat cream cheese in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add egg, pumpkin, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and ginger; beat until well blended.

Reserve 1/3 cup of the brownie batter for the topping. Fold chocolate chips into the remaining batter and scrape into the prepared pan, making sure to spread it all the way to the corners. Spread the cheesecake batter over the brownie layer to cover evenly.

Drop the reserved brownie batter by generous teaspoonfuls over the top and draw a dull knife through the top of the two batters to create a swirl design.

Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack. When cool, use the foil as handles to lift the brownies from the pan before cutting into squares.

Recipe nutrition: Per serving: 186 calories; 9 g fat (3 g sat, 3 g mono); 40 mg cholesterol; 28 g carbohydrate; 19 g added sugars; 20 g total sugars; 4 g protein; 3 g fiber; 115 mg sodium; 119 mg potassium.

Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (38 percent daily value)

2 Carbohydrate Serving(s)

Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1 1/2 other carbohydrate, 1 fat

(EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at www.eatingwell.com.)