Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies

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Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies are the ultimate dessert fusion for chocolate lovers. They feature fudgy brown butter brownies topped with a layer of decadent chocolate-swirled cheesecake.

Chocolatey cream cheese swirl brownies with a layer of brown butter brownie and a layer of swirled creamy cheesecake.

If you are a chocolate lover like us, these fudgy brownies with a marbled cheesecake are a must-try! Each bite is so rich, chocolatey, and satisfying. Enjoy them on a cozy night with a glass of your favorite milk or an oat milk hot chocolate.

Looking for other tasty baked goodies? Try our Brown Butter Brownie Blondies or our Lemon Curd Coffee Cake.

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Why You'll Love These Cream Cheese Brownies
Key Ingredients
Substitutions and Variations
Cheesecake Brownies Instructions
Baking Tips
Cream Cheese Brownie FAQs
Related Recipes
Did You Like This Recipe?
📖 Recipe

Why You'll Love These Cream Cheese Brownies

Taste - The chocolate brownies and cream cheese topping for a uniquely luxurious bite.
Texture - The brownies have a light crisp edge and gooey inside.
Effort - Despite combining 2 desserts, this brownie recipe is pretty simple. Just mix the brownie and cream cheese batters separately, then pour the cream cheese batter on top of the brownie batter and bake.
Time - It takes about 15 minutes to mix the batters then about 40 minutes to bake.

Key Ingredients

Ingredients for cheesecake brownies, flour, brown and granulated sugar, butter, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, kosher salt, cream cheese, eggs, chocolate chips.

Unsalted butter - Butter adds richness and moisture to the brownies, especially when browned.
Granulated sugar and dark brown sugar - Granulated sugar adds sweetness to the brownies and cheesecake topping. Dark brown sugar makes the brownies fudgy and tender.
Eggs - Eggs bind the ingredients together and ensure that the brownies will be moist. They also ensure the cheesecake topping is creamy.
Vanilla extract - Vanilla extract adds depth.
All-purpose flour - All-purpose flour is the foundation for these brownies.
Dutch-processed cocoa powder - Cocoa powder adds extra chocolate flavor to the brownies.
Chocolate chips - We recommend semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks because they are the perfect combination of sweet and rich.
Cream cheese - Cream cheese is a rich and silky cheese and the base of the cream cheese topping. Check out our simple homemade cream cheese recipe.

See recipe card for quantities.

Substitutions and Variations

Light brown sugar - Use light brown sugar if you prefer a less rich and less caramel flavored brownie.
Dark Chocolate chips - Use dark chocolate chips or chunks for a more intensely flavored chocolate.
Nuts - Add chopped walnuts or pecans for crunch.
Chocolate drizzle - Drizzle chocolate or white chocolate for extra decadence.
Toffee bits - Toffee adds a caramel buttery flavor.
Vanilla Bean Paste - Use vanilla bean paste in the cheesecake mixture for an enhanced vanilla flavor and to show flecks of vanilla bean.

Cheesecake Brownies Instructions

Steps to make cream cheese swirl brownies, line brownie tin, brown butter in a pan, and whisk sugars, brown butter, vanilla.

Prepare pan - Place rack in the center tier of the oven and heat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8x8 square cake pan with butter or line with parchment paper with overhang on the sides. The extra parchment paper will help you lift the brownies out of the pan once finished. (Photo 1)
Make brown butter - Heat a skillet or saucepan on medium heat. Then add the sliced butter to the pan and whisk as the butter cooks. The butter will foam then start to brown and form small brown flecks. The butter will be golden brown and have a nutty aroma. Remove from heat and pour into a measuring cup. If it measures less than a cup, mix in a tablespoon or two of water to reach a cup. (Photo 2 and 3)
Whisk wet ingredients - Using a hand or stand mixer or a whisk, whisk browned butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the sugars are completely combined and dissolved. (Photo 4)

Steps to make marbled cheesecake brownies, whisk eggs one at a time until smooth.

Whisk vanilla and eggs - Then add vanilla extract and the 2 eggs one at a time and whisk thoroughly. This step is important as it gives the brownies its shiny top. (Photo 5, 6, 7, and 8)

Steps to make cream cheese swirl brownies, fold in flour, cocoa powder, kosher salt, and chocolate chips, reserve a quarter cup of batter.

Add dry ingredients - Add in flour, cocoa powder, and salt and whisk until just combined. (Photo 9 and 10)
Add chocolate chips - Then add chocolate chips and hand mix them until just mixed. Reserve about a ¼ cup of the brownie batter for the swirl and set aside. (Photo 11 and 12)

Steps to make cream cheese brown butter brownies, pour batter in brownie tin, then make cheesecake mixture with cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and egg, pour onto brownie batter.

Pour batter - Pour the remaining batter into the lined cake pan and smooth with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Tap the pan on the table to release any bubbles in the batter. (Photo 13)
Make the cream cheese cheesecake mixture - Add the cream cheese and sugar in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Use a handheld electric mixer to beat until creamy. Then add in the egg and vanilla extract. (Photo 14 and 15)
Pour onto batter - Pour the cream cheese mixture over the brownie batter and smooth it over to create an even layer. (Photo 16)

Steps to make cream cheese swirl brownies, add dollops of brownie batter and swirl, then bake, slice, and top with flaky sea salt.

Add dollops of brownie batter - Take the reserved ¼ cup of brownie batter and add drops of it on the cream cheese cheesecake layer. (Photo 17)
Create the swirl - Use a toothpick, dinner knife, or chopstick to create swirls in the batter. This will create a marbled effect once baked. Top with chocolate chips, if desired. (Photo 18)
Bake - Bake the brownies for 35-45 minutes. Use a toothpick to test the center of the brownies. If the toothpick has wet batter, continue to cook the brownies, checking every couple of minutes. If the toothpick comes out almost clean and the edges of the brownie pull from the side of the pan, then the brownies are done cooking. (Photo 19)
Cool and slice - Remove the brownies from the oven and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Allow them to cool for 10 minutes. Then remove the brownies from the cake pan and use a sharp knife to cut the brownies into thirds for 9 pieces total. (Photo 20)

Brown butter brownies with a layer of cream cheese and swirled brownie batter and tiny chocolate chips.

Baking Tips

Be sure to tap the pan after you add the brownie batter to release any air bubbles in the batter.
Leave a little overhang when you line the brownie pan with parchment paper to make it easy to remove the brownies from the pan once could
Be sure not to cut the brownies until cool or they won't cut cleanly.

Cream Cheese Brownie FAQs

How do I prevent the cheesecake layer from cracking?

Do not over bake the brownies. If you bake them too long, it will draw out the moisture from the cream cheese and make the brownies crack.

What toppings go well with cheesecake brownies?

These brownies are already decadent with the cheesecake topping. But you can add whipped cream or chocolate sauce to make them even more indulgent.

Flatlay of marbled cheesecake brownies made with brown butter and chocolate chips.

Did You Like This Recipe?

Love these easy cheesecake brownies? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below & leave a comment below.

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