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Cream Cheese Brownies Recipe

Decadent and irresistibly fudgy, these Cream Cheese Brownies blend rich chocolate with a velvety sweetened cream cheese swirl. Effortless to prepare, they promise indulgence in every bite.
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cream Cheese Brownies Recipe
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 16 Brownies

Ingredients

For the Brownies

  • teaspoons pure vanilla extract 6 grams
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 170 grams
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 21 grams
  • 1 cup granulated sugar 200 grams
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 large eggs 150 grams, at room temperature
  • ¼ cup brown sugar 53 grams
  • ½ cup unsalted butter 113 grams, at room temperature, cut into quarters
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour 120 grams

For the Cream Cheese Topping

  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 grams
  • 8 ounces cream cheese 227 grams, at room temperature
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar 50 grams
  • 1 large egg 50 grams, at room temperature

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper and lightly coat with nonstick spray; set aside. In a double boiler over low heat, melt the chocolate chips and butter together, stirring until smooth. Remove from the heat, whisk in the cocoa powder, and let the mixture cool for 10 minutes. Whisk in the granulated sugar and brown sugar until fully incorporated. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking thoroughly. Stir in the vanilla extract and salt, then gently fold in the flour until just blended; set aside. In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar with a hand mixer until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla extract, beating until the mixture is well combined. Pour the prepared brownie batter into the pan, reserving about ¼ cup of the batter. Spread the cream cheese topping evenly over the brownie layer. Drop the reserved brownie batter over the top and swirl gently with a knife to create a marbled effect. Bake for 30–40 minutes, or until the center is set and a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean with a few fudgy crumbs. Allow the brownies to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Notes

For added texture, stir whole chocolate chips or chopped walnuts into the batter. For a unique twist, swirl peanut butter, Nutella, fruit jam, or lemon curd into the cream cheese layer. Store the brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.