Cream Cheese Brownie Recipe: Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Apr 17, 2023 • 2 min read
If you like the texture and slightly tangy taste of cream cheese, try whipping up a cream cheese brownie recipe for a dessert you can enjoy all week long.
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What Are Cream Cheese Brownies?
Cream cheese brownies are chocolate brownies featuring a cream cheese layer or swirl. When making this dessert, you can sweeten the cream cheese or flavor it with fruit, chocolate, or peanut butter. Alternatively, you can add traditional cheesecake ingredients, such as eggs and sour cream, since cream cheese brownies taste like a chocolate swirl cheesecake.
Like other chewy, fudgy brownies, cream cheese brownies pair well with ice cream and fresh whipped cream, both of which will break up the rich chocolate flavor of the brownies.
3 Tips for Making Cream Cheese Brownies
Cream cheese brownies are fairly straightforward to make; however, there are a few tips you can keep in mind to make the process go as smoothly as possible:
- 1. Start with store-bought brownie mix. If convenience is important to you, use a store-bought brownie mix since it already has all the dry ingredients you need in a brownie recipe. Then all you have to do is make is the cream cheese mixture.
- 2. Use cocoa powder and chocolate chips. Stir both unsweetened cocoa powder and chocolate chips into the brownie batter for a more intense chocolate flavor. The chocolate chips add texture in addition to flavor.
- 3. Use ingredients at room temperature. Butter, cream cheese, and eggs incorporate better when they’re at room temperature. Some brownie recipes call for melted butter, while others call for beating butter with sugar and eggs to create an airy consistency. Use room temperature eggs and room temperature cream cheese to create a smooth cheesecake batter.
Cream Cheese Brownie Recipe
makes
9prep time
20 mintotal time
50 mincook time
30 minIngredients
For the brownie batter:
For the cream cheese layer:
Make the brownie batter:
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 2
Grease an 8-inch, square baking pan with cooking spray.
- 3
Line the baking pan with parchment paper.
- 4
In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter in the microwave.
- 5
Whisk the cocoa powder into the melted butter.
- 6
Whisk in the brown sugar until the sugar dissolves and the mixture becomes lighter in color.
- 7
Whisk in one egg at a time, fully incorporating one before adding the next one.
- 8
Mix in the vanilla extract.
- 9
In a separate large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and chocolate chips.
- 10
Stir the flour mixture into the sugar mixture.
- 11
Set the brownie batter aside.
Make the cream cheese layer:
- 1
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and sour cream.
- 2
Mix in the sugar.
- 3
Mix in the large egg.
- 4
Mix in the vanilla extract.
- 5
Stir in the all-purpose flour.
Assemble the batter and cream cheese layers for baking:
- 1
To the prepared pan, add half of the brownie batter and spread it evenly in the pan.
- 2
Dollop the cream cheese filling on top of the brownie batter, spreading it out as much as possible.
- 3
Pour the reserved brownie batter on top of the cheesecake layer.
- 4
With a toothpick, swirl the layers together to create a slightly marbled effect.
- 5
Bake the cheesecake brownies for 25–30 minutes.
- 6
Cool the brownies in the baking pan.
- 7
Cut the cheesecake brownies into 9 equal-size pieces. Store any leftover brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
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