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Easy Swirled Cheesecake Brownies

Cheesecake brownies take the best of two popular desserts, cheesecake and brownies, and combines them into one amazing dessert. Cheesecake filling is swirled on top of a rich chocolate base layer with chocolate chips in this decadent treat.

If you are a fellow brownie lover, you will also love some of my other favorite recipes like these chocolate walnut brownies, this double chocolate salted caramel brownie, or this chocolate walnut fudge.

Cheesecake brownies with moist chocolate and swirls of sweet cheesecake stacked on top of each other on a yellow plate.

Homemade Brownies

What is it about homemade brownies that are just so good? Imagine, if you can, biting into a freshly made moist brownie with a fudgy texture. Can you taste it?  Honestly, just looking at the photo above makes me feel hungry—I almost want to lick the screen!

Instead, I’ll try to contain myself and share this recipe for homemade brownies with you. As you can see, these are a little different than your standard brownie recipe. The base layer is made up of flour, cocoa, butter, sugar, and some really good chocolate. Then, these thick and gooey homemade brownies are topped with a layer of cheesecake, which makes it pretty hard to practice any self-control.

Bonus tip: if you need a way to draw your kids (or husband) out of their rooms, just whip up a batch of these homemade brownies — they’ll come running! 🙂

Homemade brownies with a cheesecake swirl topping on a serving tray with two cups of coffee.

Cream Cheese Brownies

At first glance, cream cheese brownies may not sound like it would work well together. Having made this recipe at least a half dozen times, however, I can assure you this combination works beautifully!

Cream cheese brownies are mostly comprised of chocolate—the thick fudgy layer is filled with chocolate chips for even more flavor. What makes them different is the thin layer of cheesecake that’s swirled on top of the brownie before it bakes. This layer is made of soft cream cheese along with sour cream and sugar.

The cream cheese brownie turns out perfectly balanced. Rich chocolate counterbalances the sweet-tart combination of the cheesecake layer. It’s this contrast that makes them so deliciously unexpected!

Cream cheese brownies stacked on a table with spilled coffee and two coffee mugs.

Tips for Making This Cheesecake Brownie Recipe

  • Buy the best quality chocolate you can afford. Both the cocoa and the chocolate chips should be high-quality chocolate. This is one of those times where you can taste the difference.
  • Purchase full-fat sour cream. I know there are a lot of light or fat-free versions available, but this cheesecake brownie recipe needs the fat from the sour cream for best results.
  • Soften the cream cheese. This can easily be done by setting out your cream cheese on the counter for 30 minutes or so, or by microwaving the unwrapped block for 15 seconds.
  • Save on time—and dishes. You can use the same bowl and mixing the attachment to mix the brownies up after you’ve made the cheesecake layer. Just scrape out the cheesecake and then start the brownies.
  • Swirl the layers. The easiest way I’ve found to swirl together this cheesecake brownie recipe is to pour the brownie layer into a baking pan, then make five long grooves in the batter with a knife. Spoon the cheesecake layer into the divots, then drag a butter knife parallel to the cheesecake ‘stripes’, alternating directions to make the swirls. You’ll see a helpful visual below. By the way, this makes a great task for a young child to help with!
  • Chill until ready to serve. Because it has cream cheese, these brownies shouldn’t be left out on the counter. Chill them and then pull them out about 5 minutes before serving.

How to Make Cheesecake Brownies

For detailed recipe instructions see the recipe card bottom of the post.

Note: I first found these yummy cheesecake brownies from Yammie’s Noshery, and slightly adapted them to make it my own.

  • Make the cheesecake layer by combining cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, and vanilla extract in a bowl of a mixer and beat together until smooth. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the egg and beat until smooth again. Transfer to a different container and set aside.

Step by step visuals of making the cheesecake swirl part of the cheesecake brownies.

  • In the same bowl as you used for making the cream cheese mixture, add sugar, melted and cooled butter, and eggs. Beat to combine. Add flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt and beat to combine once more. Add chocolate chips and fold together with a spatula.

Visual step by step directions for making the brownie layer of the cheesecake brownies.

  • Transfer brownie batter to a baking dish and make it as even as possible. Make 5 long grooves within the batter with the long end of the spoon for the cheesecake mixture.
    Spoon the cheesecake mixture into the grooves. With a butter knife, drag the cheesecake mix parallel to the stripes alternating directions to make the swirls.
  • Bake for 20-30 minutes. Set your timer for 20 minutes and check for doneness. Make sure to pull out the pan as soon as the mixture in the middle starts to puff up.

Step by step visual directions for swirling together the cheesecake brownie mixture.

  • Allow the cheesecake brownies to cool completely before serving. Refrigerate until ready to serve. When you are ready to cut and serve, run a knife under hot water, wipe it dry, then cut.

 

Close up photo of a tower of cheesecake brownies stacked on a plate.

Easy Swirled Cheesecake Brownies

5 from 6 votes

These simple cheesecake brownies are thick, warm, and full of flavor. A thick fudge brownie is swirled with cheesecake topping - you'll want to make this yummy recipe again and again!

Author: Yummie's Noshery
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cheesecake brownies
Calories: 645 kcal
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients

For the Brownies:

For the Cheesecake:

  • 8 oz. softened cream cheese
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • 1 egg

Instructions

Make the Cheesecake portion

  1. Combine 8 oz cream cheese, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/3 cup sour cream, and 1 tbsp vanilla extract in a bowl of a mixer and beat together until smooth, scraping downsides of the bowl as needed. Add 1 egg and beat until smooth again. Transfer to a tall glass.

  2. Turn oven to 350°F and place a baking rack in the middle. Spray 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray and set aside.

Make the Brownie

  1. In the same bowl as you used for making the cream cheese mixture, add 1 3/4 cups sugar, 1 tbsp vanilla extract, 2 sticks melted and slightly cooled butter and 4 eggs. Beat to combine. Add 1 1/2 cup flour, 1 1/4 cup cocoa powder, 1 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt and again beat to combine. Add 2 cups chocolate chips and fold together with a spatula.

  2. Transfer batter to baking dish evening it out. Make 5 long grooves within the batter with the long end of the spoon for the cheesecake mixture.
  3. Spoon the cheesecake mixture into the grooves. With a butter knife, run parallel to the cheesecake ‘stripes’ alternating directions to make the swirls. Bake for 20-30 minutes. Set your time for 20 minutes and check. Pull out the pan as soon as the mixture in the middle of the pan is starting to puff up.
  4. Allow cooling completely before serving. To cut and serve, run a knife under hot water, wipe, then cut. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Nutrition Facts
Easy Swirled Cheesecake Brownies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 645 Calories from Fat 198
% Daily Value*
Fat 22g34%
Saturated Fat 10g63%
Cholesterol 97mg32%
Sodium 420mg18%
Potassium 247mg7%
Carbohydrates 104g35%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 59g66%
Protein 11g22%
Vitamin A 460IU9%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 99mg10%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Marina | Let the Baking Begin

Welcome to Let the Baking Begin! I'm Marina and my love and passion for eating only the most delicious foods drive me to share that love here on Let the Baking Begin (since 2009). With over 20 years of experience in the kitchen, you know the recipes are tested and retested until perfect. I'm so happy to have you here. Enjoy! Read more...

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  • Mo

    Can a boxed version of brownie mix be used? If so, any brand recommendations?

    I have a brownie pan and it is 8 x 12. Will this work versus a 9 x 13 pan

    Also, can I fold in walnuts and sweetened shredded coconut?

    Thx!

    Mo

    · Reply
  • Shirley Vanderau

    I made this but middle is not cooked..says 20 minutes but it’s been 30 min still raw in the middle..

    · Reply
  • Miranda

    Hello,
    i just want to say i made these for my boyfriend and he loved them him i and our three other friends ate them and enjoyed every last one of them they didnt come out in swirls but they were still amazing tasting.

    ~thank you, for the recipe i loved it. cc

    · Reply
  • Sarah

    Hi can you clarify how many grams 1 and a half cups of sugar would be? I’ve tried googling but some up with different answers! Also how many grams is 2 sticks of butter? Thank you!

    · Reply
    • Hi Sarah,
      1 cup sugar is 200 grams. 1.5 cups would be 300 grams.

      1 stick butter – 113 grams. 2 sticks butter = 226 g.

      · Reply
  • Terry

    I️ making these brownies tonight. Do I️ really need the chocolate chips. Would they turn out without them?

    · Reply
    • I think they would turn out OK, but brownies really need all the chocolate that the recipe calls for to be really good.

      · Reply
  • Rachel Boyett

    I just made these and they are perfect! Rich and chocolaty and the cream cheese topping is perfect!

    · Reply
  • Elona

    OMG..these are just indescribable!!!! They are the most heavenly, irresistible, chocolatey, moist, chewy, and the most satisfying brownies I’ve ever made or ate in my WHOLE LIFE!!!!!!!!! I literally ate half the pan!! That’s how addicted I got from the first bite. Oops! I recommend EVERYONE to not even look
    for another brownie recipe and go into your kitchen right now and start making these babies!!
    Thank You SOO much Marinochka for such a fabulous recipe!!! Keep up the hard work hun!

    · Reply
  • Connie

    Hi!

    I just made these (in the oven) and thought I’d let you know that on the printed version the vanilla is missing from the brownie instructions.

    Thanks for the recipe!

    · Reply
  • Faith

    The cream cheese ingredients have sugar listed; but the instructions do not say to add the sugar. Can you clarify please?

    · Reply
  • I’m on a no sugar for one week thingy to detox. But WTH ,I’m making this tomorrow. .. just fir the joy of seeing these babies in my hand. Sometimes the road to happiness is so simple.

    · Reply
  • Olya

    In description you said baking soda in ingredient list you said baking powder! 🙂

    · Reply
    • Ellen

      I would like the answer to this also – I used Baking powder but I am not sure that is correct.

      · Reply
      • It’s baking powder, so you got it!

        · Reply
  • Tiffany

    Just made these babies and they are YUMMYYYYYYY! Thank you for the great recipes!

    · Reply
    • Thanks for your feedback Tiffany! Enjoy!

      · Reply
  • Kori

    Making this right now and I melted some butter but it’s not in the directions just on the ingredient list. Do I not need it?

    · Reply
    • Hi Kori,
      You add the butter with the eggs and sugar. I apologize for not answering right away, your message was sent to spam folder for some reason I just noticed your question.

      · Reply
  • foodlikecake

    These look so fudgey!

    · Reply

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