The Ohia tree is native to Hawaii. It can be found all over the island, including the lava fields. It would seem almost impossible for anything to survive in this harsh environment, and yet not only does the Ohia grow, but it provides nutrients for new life.
There is a beautiful Hawaiian story about the Ohia tree and it's blossom, the Lehua. It's about love, sacrifice and temptation. The Ohia is not the showiest of trees. It has shedding bark, gnarled branches and a red pom pom shaped flower that primarily grows in the Spring. But like the Ohia, love is not just about outward beauty. It is imperfect and has flaws, but it is also a source of strength and new life.
We often focus on our Lehua honey at Valentine's Day, a time when people take a moment to tell their loved ones how much they truly mean to them, because the Lehua honey is made from our beloved Ohia trees. It is a product you can find nowhere else in the world and a taste of the unique landscape that these trees grow in, and, for some, it's also a reminder of love.
Honey Cream Cheese Brownie Recipe
Ingredients:
- 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for greasing pan
- 2/3 c raw organic lehua honey
- 1/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp white vinegar
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 c all-purpose flour
For the cheesecake topping:
- 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg yolk
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
- Grease an 8x8-inch baking pan with butter.
- In a large bowl, combine the butter, honey, cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt. Then stir in the white vinegar.
- Whisk together the eggs in a small bowl, and then stir them into the brownie batter. Fold in the flour and pour the batter into the prepared pan, reserving 1/4 cup of the batter for the topping.
- Use a mixer to blend together the cream cheese, honey, vanilla and egg yolk until well combined.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture over the brownie batter then top the cream cheese with dollops of the remaining brownie batter. Using a sharp knife or toothpick, swirl the cream cheese together with the dollops of brownie batter.
- Bake the brownies for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool before slicing and serving.
Recipe adapted from www.justataste.com.
