Description
Chocolate brownies with a cream cheese swirl combine the deep richness of cocoa with the smooth creaminess of cheesecake. The marbled layers create a striking look and deliver a perfectly balanced bite of fudgy and silky in one dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs (whole)
- 1 large egg yolk
- 4 oz cream cheese (at room temperature)
- 8 tbsps unsalted butter (cut into small cubes)
- 2 oz unsweetened chocolate (finely chopped)
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour OR gluten-free flour (King Arthur’s GF Measure for Measure Flour)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350º F. Line an 8×8 or 9×9 inch baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper, lightly spraying with non-stick cooking spray.
- Whisk together flour, salt, and cocoa powder in a mixing bowl. Set aside for later use.
- Melt unsweetened chocolate and butter in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring continuously until smooth and fully combined, approximately 5 minutes.
- In a separate large bowl, beat granulated sugar, whole eggs, and additional egg yolk with an electric mixer for 1 minute until the mixture turns pale yellow and doubles in volume.
- Fold the melted chocolate mixture into the egg mixture. Add vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Gently incorporate the flour mixture until just combined.
- Separate and reserve 1/3 cup of the batter. Spread the remaining batter evenly in the prepared pan.
- In another bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and egg with an electric mixer for 1–2 minutes until smooth. Spoon into a piping bag or zip-top bag with the corner snipped.
- Pipe the cream cheese mixture in a grid pattern over the brownie batter. Use a butter knife to create swirling patterns. Add the reserved batter to fill gaps and create additional swirls.
- Bake for 30-38 minutes, depending on pan type. Glass pan requires 35-38 minutes, metal pan 30-35 minutes. The brownies are done when a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Allow brownies to cool completely at room temperature before cutting and serving.
Notes
- Choose high-quality unsweetened chocolate for richer, more intense brownie flavor that elevates the entire dessert experience.
- Allow cream cheese to reach room temperature precisely to ensure smooth swirling and perfect texture without lumps.
- Drag knife gently and minimally through cream cheese and brownie batter to create elegant marbled patterns without overmixing.
- Substitute gluten-free flour blend for all-purpose flour and use dairy-free cream cheese alternative to accommodate different dietary requirements.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 270 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg