Cheesecake Brownies

These gooey cheesecake brownies are absolutely heaven-sent.  The most fudgy chocolate brownie you've ever tasted topped with rich, creamy, baked cheesecake, with a beautiful brownie cheesecake swirl to boot.  Divine. 

I can be picky with desserts, but these cheesecake brownies will ALWAYS have a place in my heart and in my belly. This is my go-to treat when I want something decadent. My S'mores Brownies were always a huge hit in the bakery, but why have one delicious dessert when you could have two in one?!

These cheesecake brownies are gooey and dense, the rich chocolate is balanced out with the tanginess of the cheesecake and there is just a hint of salt that gives it this beautifully rounded flavor that just swirls together in a dance of deliciousness in your mouth!

'But Jules, it's just a brownie', you say. Just wait until you have tried them for yourself! I am convinced nobody could ever feel sad while biting into one of these fudgy cheesecake brownies.  They are the ultimate in comfort food and work as an indulgent snack or a standalone dessert.   

I have mixed cream cheese with brownies in other recipes, such as my Red Velvet Brownies, but this cheesecake brownie recipe is in a league of its own. If decadent layered desserts are what you're after, you might also like my Tuxedo Cake recipe which has 3 layers of chocolate mousse! 

Jump to:

• Why you'll love this Cheesecake Cream Cheese Brownie Recipe
• Ingredients
• How to make Cream Cheese Brownies
• How to Slice Cheesecake Brownies
• Video
• Variations
• Cheesecake Brownie storage
• You Might Also Like
• Recipe

Equipment

• 9-inch Square Baking Dish - You could also make this in an 8-inch pan if you prefer, the cream cheese brownies will just be a little thicker. For best results use a metal pan rather than a glass pan. 
  
• Large Bowl
  
• Whisk - you can also use a stand mixer or hand mixer if you like, but a regular old whisk works just fine. 

How to make Cream Cheese Brownies

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F / 180°C and line a 9-inch square pan with parchment paper.  
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the room temperature eggs and sugar until they are light and thick, kind of like custard.  You can do this with a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, with an electric mixer, or just by hand with a regular handheld whisk.  The important thing is that the mixture gets pale and thick as this will help to make nice fudgy brownies. 
3. In a heatproof bowl, break the chocolate into small pieces, then add the butter and melt both together in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between until everything is melted and free of lumps. 

4. Pour the melted chocolate/butter mixture into the whipped egg/sugar mixture and mix everything together with the whisk until completely incorporated. 
5. Sift the dry ingredients (flour and salt) into the brownie batter and fold in gently until all the flour is mixed in. 

6. Remove about half a cup of the brownie batter into a small bowl, we'll use this later to swirl into the cheesecake.  Pour the remaining brownie batter into the prepared pan and spread it out to create a nice even layer.  Set aside while you make the cheesecake. 
7. In a medium mixing bowl, add all the ingredients for the cheesecake recipe and cream together until completely smooth.  It is important that you use room temperature cream cheese and eggs, and that you pass your powdered sugar through a sieve first to avoid getting any lumps in the cheesecake topping.  

8. Once smooth, pour the cheesecake mixture on top of the brownie batter and use a butter knife to slightly 'meld' the two layers together.  Don't mix too much, this is just so the layers don't separate as they bake. 
9. Take the reserved brownie batter and spoon small dollops of it all over the cream cheese mixture, then use a toothpick or a knife to swirl the chocolate mixture in pretty patterns.  

10. Bake the cheesecake brownies for 30-35 minutes or until the cheesecake just starts to turn golden at the edges, there should still be a slight wobble in the middle of the cheesecake.  
    
    Bake time may vary depending on your oven so definitely check for the visual signs that they are ready.  Remove from the oven and let cool COMPLETELY before attempting to remove from the pan and slicing.  

How to Slice Cheesecake Brownies

The most important thing is that your cheesecake brownies have to be completely cool before you attempt to slice them.  This is an extremely gooey, fudgy recipe and they need to set up a bit, so if they aren't cool you will end up with a bit of a mess all over your worktop.  

For the absolute best results, I actually recommend chilling the cheesecake brownies in the fridge for an hour before slicing - this will help you to get really nice, clean cuts.

The best way to cut them is to take your chilled brownies and a large, sharp knife.  Run the knife under hot water to heat it up slightly, then wipe it down with a paper towel and make the first cut.  For really clean slices, repeat this process in between each slice so you don't spread remnants of the fudgy brownie layer through your cheesecake. 

You can either cut into 9 squares, or 16, depending on what size of cheesecake brownies you want - they are very decadent so the smaller ones do go a long way! 

Video

Here is a full video tutorial for how to make cheesecake brownies:

Variations

• Cherry Cheesecake Brownies - for an elevated twist, try adding a layer of cherries in between the brownie and cheesecake layers.  You could also try using the delicious cherry recipe from my Black Forest Cupcakes, and swirl some of the extra filling into the cheesecake on top for a super pretty touch. 
  
• Chocolate Chips - The chocolate flavor is already very intense in these cheesecake brownies, but if you want to step it up a notch, you could add some milk, dark or white chocolate chips to the brownie batter. 
  
• Nuts - You could also incorporate some of your favorite nuts into the brownie mixture for an added crunch to contrast the fudgy texture.  Pecans or walnuts would work really nicely. 

Can you use a boxed brownie mix? 

Technically, yes.  But I urge you to try making this recipe completely from scratch.  While there are some decent box mix brownies out there that make a chewy brownie, nothing can beat homemade brownies, and this particular recipe makes the most incredible gooey brownie that you just can't achieve with box brownie mix.  

The brownie part also comes together so quickly and easily, that you really won't be saving much time with a box mix.  So I encourage you to try making these from scratch - I think there's a good chance it may become your new favorite brownie recipe! 

Cheesecake Brownie storage

Store your cheesecake brownies in the fridge, either in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in plastic wrap.  They need to be chilled because of the cream cheese, and keeping them airtight will help to maintain the flavor and gooey texture.

To enjoy the best flavor possible, remove the brownies from the fridge an hour before serving to let them come to room temperature. 

You Might Also Like

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