Cream Cheese Brownies are delicious desserts made of rich, fudgy brownie batter and a luxurious cream cheese swirl. These treats offer the perfect dense fudgy base that is topped with a creamy cheesecake layer, creating an explosion of flavor and texture in every bite.
Cream Cheese Brownie Recipe
The brownie part of these cheesecake-swirled brownies is based on my go-to brownie recipe and homemade brownies. I usually like making desserts from scratch, especially when they're as simple as this one.
To make the cheesecake swirl, start by mixing cream cheese, sugar, an egg, and a bit of vanilla extract until it’s nice and smooth. It helps if the cream cheese is at room temperature, so it blends easily. Using an electric mixer makes it even easier to get rid of any lumps.
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⭐Why You'll Love Cream Cheese Brownies
- Easy to make: The recipe is straightforward and user-friendly. The step-by-step instructions guide you through the process, ensuring a successful and delicious result.
- Rich and Delicious Flavor: This recipe combines the richness of dark chocolate in the brownie layer with the creamy and slightly tangy flavor of the cream cheese layer.
- Beautiful Marbled Appearance: The swirling technique used to combine the brownie and cream cheese batters creates a beautiful marbled effect.
- A Classic with a Twist: While brownies and cream cheese are classic treats on their own, combining them in this recipe adds a delightful twist.
- Satisfaction for Chocolate Lovers: If you're a chocolate enthusiast, these brownies are a dream come true. The deep chocolate flavor in the brownie layer satisfies chocolate cravings.
🧾Ingredients
Here is a list of everything you need for Cream Cheese Brownies recipe:
For Brownies:
- Butter: Provides moisture and contributes to the rich, buttery flavor of the brownie.
- Dark Chocolate: Adds a deep, intense chocolate flavor to the brownie. Dark chocolate also contributes to the fudgy texture and richness.
- Sugar: Sweetens the brownie, balancing the bitterness of the dark chocolate. It also contributes to the texture, creating a moist and tender crumb.
- Eggs: Act as a binding agent, holding the brownie together. Eggs also add structure and moisture, contributing to the texture of the brownie.
- Flour: Provides structure and stability to the brownie. It helps create a chewy and dense texture while preventing the brownies from being too soft or gooey.
- Cocoa: Enhances the chocolate flavor of the brownie. Cocoa powder also contributes to the color and texture, giving the brownies a rich and dark appearance.
For Cheesecake:
- Cottage Cheese: Adds a creamy and slightly tangy texture to the cheesecake layer. Cottage cheese contributes to the overall smoothness of the cream cheese mixture.
- Cream Cheese: Forms the base of the cheesecake layer, providing a rich and creamy texture. Cream cheese also adds a subtle tanginess, balancing the sweetness of the brownie.
- Sugar: Sweetens the cheesecake layer, providing a contrast to the tanginess of the cream cheese. It contributes to the overall sweetness of the dessert.
- Egg: Acts as a binding agent and adds structure to the cheesecake layer. It also contributes to the smooth texture of the cream cheese mixture when baked.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor of the cream cheese layer with a sweet and aromatic vanilla note.
- Corn Starch: Acts as a thickening agent for the cheesecake layer, helping to set and stabilize the cream cheese mixture during baking.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
👩🏻🍳How to Make Cream Cheese Brownies
These step-by-step instructions and photos will help you to visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.
1. In a saucepan, melt the butter and dark chocolate together.
2. After it's all melted, take the saucepan off the heat and leave it for a bit.
3. In a big bowl, put in the sugar and eggs. Use a hand mixer to beat them until they mix together well.
4. Pour the melted butter chocolate mix onto the egg sugar mix and mix them together until everything is well combined.
5. Put in the flour and cocoa powder through a sifter, then gently mix them into the wet mixture until they're just combined.
6. Grab two tablespoons of batter and put them in a little bowl. Leave it on the side for now.
7. Pour the brownie batter into the baking pan that you've already prepared with parchment paper. Make sure to spread it out evenly.
8. In another bowl, mix together cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sugar until everything is well blended.
9. Now, add an egg, some vanilla extract, and cornstarch to the creamy cheese mix. Stir everything together until it becomes smooth and creamy.
10. Gently pour the cream cheese mixture over the brownie layer.
11. Pour in some milk into the brownie batter and stir until everything is mixed well together.
12. Spoon out dollops of the leftover brownie batter and place them on top of the cheesecake layer.
13. Take a toothpick and gently swirl it through both batters, making a cool marble pattern.
14. Pop it in the oven that's heated to 180°C (350°F) and let it bake for around 30 minutes or until a toothpick stuck in the center comes out with some moist crumbs.
15. Let the brownies cool down entirely in the pan before you cut them into pieces.
16. After the brownies have cooled down, take off the parchment paper, cut them into pieces, and serve.
📖Variations
Cream Cheese Brownies are a versatile dessert, and there are numerous ways to add a creative twist to the classic recipe.
Here are some variations you can try:
- Espresso Infused Brownies: Add a tablespoon of instant espresso powder to the brownie batter for a rich coffee flavor that complements the chocolate.
- White Chocolate Swirl Brownies: Swirl melted white chocolate into the cream cheese layer for a visually appealing marbled effect.
- Salted Caramel Brownies: Drizzle salted caramel sauce over the cream cheese layer before baking for a sweet and salty flavor contrast.
- Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies: Swirl creamy or crunchy peanut butter into the cream cheese layer for a delightful peanut butter and chocolate combination.
🍽 How to Serve
Serving Cheesecake Brownies can be a delightful experience. Here's a guide on how to serve Cream Cheese Brownies:
- Presentation: Arrange the brownies on a serving platter or individual dessert plates.
- Serve with a Side: Cream Cheese Brownies are delicious on their own, but you can also serve them with a side of vanilla ice cream, a scoop of whipped cream, or a spoonful of fruit compote for added flavor and texture.
- Warm or Room Temperature: Brownies can be served at room temperature for a fudgy and chewy texture, or you can warm them slightly in the microwave or oven if you prefer a gooey and warm treat.
- Accompany with Beverages: Pair Cream Cheese Brownies with a variety of beverages such as coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or a glass of milk.
💭Tips for Recipe Success
Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure ingredients like cream cheese and eggs are at room temperature. This helps in achieving a smoother and more uniform texture in the batter.
Proper Mixing Technique: Mix the brownie batter until just combined. Overmixing can result in dense brownies. When blending the cream cheese layer, ensure a smooth and creamy consistency to avoid lumps.
Swirling Technique: When swirling the brownie and cream cheese layers together, use a gentle hand to create a marbled effect. Don't overdo it to maintain distinct layers.
Proper Baking Time: Keep a close eye on the brownies towards the end of the baking time. Overbaking can result in dry brownies. The toothpick test is useful, it should come out with moist crumbs, not wet batter.
Cooling Time: Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan before cutting. This helps them set, making it easier to achieve clean and neat slices.
Chill for Clean Slices: If time allows, refrigerate the brownies for a few hours before cutting. Chilled brownies are easier to cut into neat pieces.
🍛More Dessert Recipes!
Here are more of my favorite dessert recipes! Try these:
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📖 Recipe
Cream Cheese Brownies
Ingredients
For Brownies:
- 150 g Butter
- 125 g Dark Chocolate
- 120 g Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 120 g Flour
- 2 tablespoon Cocoa
For Cheesecake:
- 175 g Cottage Cheese
- 250 g Cream Cheese
- 50 g Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 tablespoon Corn Starch
- 2 tablespoon Milk
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter and dark chocolate together.
- Once melted, remove the saucepan from the heat. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the sugar and eggs and beat with a hand mixer until well combined.
- Pour the butter-chocolate mixture over the egg-sugar mixture and blend until well combined.
- Sift in the flour and cocoa powder, and fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined.
- Take two tablespoons of batter and place in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Pour the brownie batter into the prepared baking pan with parchment paper and spread it evenly. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, combine cottage cheese, cream cheese and sugar and stir until well combined.
- Add egg, vanilla extract and corn starch to the cream cheese mixture and mix well until smooth and creamy.
- Carefully pour the cream cheese batter over the brownie layer.
- Add milk to the brownie batter and stir until well combined.
- Drop a few spoonful of the remaining brownie batter on top of the cheesecake layer.
- Use a toothpick to swirl the two batters together, creating a marbled effect.
- Bake in the preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs.
- Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan before cutting.
- Once cooled, remove the parchment paper, cut the brownies and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Sandra says
Just made the most incredible cream cheese brownies! 💯 Dense, fudgy, and with the perfect amount of tangy cheesecake. Recommend this recipe – so worth it!
John says
Combining the two best desserts in one, this recipe is on my to-do list now.