Get ready for an indulgent treat like none other. These cheesecake swirl brownies are made with fudgy and chewy brownie batter, filled with a creamy cheesecake layer, and topped with an extra layer of rich and gooey brownie. The perfect combination of texture and flavor, these cheesecake swirl brownies are sure to delight even the most demanding sweet tooth.
Are you looking for a decadent dessert that takes a classic treat to the next level? Look no further than these cheesecake swirl brownies: a delicious combination of rich chocolate brownies and creamy cheesecake swirled together. With this recipe, anyone can create a memorable dessert to wow family and friends. And the best part? This tasty treat can be ready in under an hour. Here’s what you can expect to learn in this article: a how-to guide on making and baking cheesecake swirl brownies, tips on how to customize them to your tastes, and a few ideas on how to serve them. So let’s dive into this delicious dessert and get started!
Fudgy vs Cakey Brownies
Do you prefer your brownies fudgy and chewy or cakey? You may be asking yourself what the difference is; let’s discuss it. The secret to achieving your desired brownie texture is in the fat to flour ratio. Fudgy brownies have a higher fat to flour ratio while cakey brownies are the opposite with more flour than fat. When choosing between fudgy and cakey brownies it comes down to personal preference of texture and flavor. Chocolate lovers tend to gravitate more towards fudgy brownies due to their richer chocolate flavor and gooey texture. Whereas cakey brownies are more like having a slice of chocolate cake rather than a brownie because of the lighter and more airy texture.
Butter vs Oil
To better understand the role of fat in baking check this butter vs oil article out; I explain in detail how to know when to choose butter as your choice of fat in your recipe and when to use oil.
In this cheesecake swirl brownie recipe unsalted butter is the fat of choice. The reason I chose butter is because it lends a richer flavor to the brownie base in this recipe. Butter is typically used in cakey brownie recipes. Butter is a saturated fat which means it is solid at room temperature, and can be aerated to add a light cake like texture to your brownies while oil is typically used in fudgy brownie recipes to create a more dense texture. In this recipe we are not aiming for a cakey brownie texture so we are not aerating the butter.
the secret to moist brownies
So what’s the secret to creating mouthwatering moist brownies? There are a few factors that contribute to ensuring your brownies are moist.
- Do not overmix the batter; mix your ingredients until they are just incorporated
- Choosing the right pan; choosing a pan that is too small can cause underbaked brownies while a pan that is too large can cause the brownies to bake too quickly and dry out. The material of the pan used also makes a difference. In this ultimate list of must have baking tools I go into depth about the different types of baking pans and how to choose the right pan.
- Bake at the right temperature; follow the recipe and bake your brownies at the correct temperature. Baking the brownies at a temperature that is too high will cause them to over bake and dry out.
- Do not over bake; for cakey brownies once a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean your brownies are done. For more moist and fudgy brownies once your brownies begin to pull away from the edges of the pan and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs your brownies are done. Over baking is a sure fire way to have dry brownies
The best pan for baking brownies
This is definitely open for debate however in my opinion the best pan for baking brownies is a metal baking pan. Metal pans are great heat conductors which means even baking as opposed to its counterparts. I also prefer the 9” x 9” square baking pan size for brownies. I suggest trying out a few different pans until you find the baking pan that gives you your desired outcome.
storing brownies
These cheesecake swirl brownies are so delicious you could probably eat them all in one day, but it’s probably a better idea to save some for later. Let’’s discuss the best ways for storing these cheesecake swirl brownies so they’re just as fresh and delicious on day 2 and 3 as they are straight from the oven. Store brownies at room temperature in an air tight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, they will keep for 1 to 2 days. After a couple days if you still have leftover brownies you can transfer them to the refrigerator for up to a week or to the freezer for 3 to 4 months.
Tips for foolproof brownies
- Use quality ingredients; brownies require few ingredients, the trick is to make sure you choose high quality ingredients. Splurge on the best quality chocolate you can get your hands on.
- Sift the dry ingredients; this step helps to remove any lumps while incorporating air into your batter, ensuring you don’t end up with dense brownies.
- Use room temperature ingredients; this helps your ingredients blend more easily, resulting in a smooth brownie batter.
- Prepare brownie pan; use non stick cooking spray and line the brownie pan with parchment paper to ensure your brownies do not stick to the pan.
- Smooth batter into pan; use an offset spatula to spread the batter into all corners of the pan. This helps to ensure your brownies bake more uniformly.
- Remove brownies from the pan; after removing from the oven let brownies cool in the pan for approximately 15 to 20 minutes then remove from the pan and let the brownies continue to cool. Leaving the brownies in the pan to long can cause the outer edges to continue to bake and become hard.
- Don’t rush it; Let your brownies cool before cutting them, brownies are too delicate to cut into while they’re still hot. Once cooled place your brownies on a cutting board and clean your knife between each slice for clean and defined cuts.
about the cheesecake swirl
The cheesecake layer in these brownies adds a smooth and creamy texture that balances beautifully with the fudgy and chewy texture of the brownie base. For this cheesecake layer it is best to start off with room temperature ingredients. Cold cream cheese is difficult to mix and will result in a lumpy batter. Leave your cream cheese, heavy cream, and eggs on your counter for a couple hours while it comes to room temperature, This will help the ingredients to mix more homogeneously and give you that creamy cheesecake texture you’re looking for.
Cheesecake swirl brownies are a delicious treat that can be made in under an hour and with just a few ingredients. They are a great way to combine the classic flavors of brownies and cheesecake in one dessert. So why not surprise your family and friends with a unique and delicious dessert they’re sure to love?
This simple yet delicious recipe is sure to give you an unforgettable treat for any occasion. With a little effort, you can create an unforgettable dessert that will leave your family and friends in awe. Serve these brownies warm with a scoop of your favorite ice cream on top or enjoy them as is.
So why not give this cheesecake swirl brownie recipe a try today?
Cheesecake Swirl Brownies
Equipment
- 1 Electric mixer
- 2 Mixing Bowls
- 1 saucepan
- 1 Fine Mesh Sieve
- 1 whisk
- 1 offset spatula
- 1 9” x 9” square baking pan
Ingredients
Cheesecake Filling
- 16 Oz cream cheese (222g)
- 1 Cup sugar (118g)
- 1 Cup heavy cream (107g)
- ½ Tsp vanilla extract (0.5g)
- 2 egg (51g)
Brownie Batter
- ¾ Cup all purpose flour (111g)
- 1 Tsp baking powder (3g)
- ¾ Cup sugar (179g)
- 2 eggs (98g)
- 8 Oz bittersweet chocolate (231g)
- ¾ Cup unsalted butter (165g)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (3g)
Instructions
Cheesecake Filling
- Add softened cream cheese to bowl, use electric mixer to beat cream cheese on low speed until completely smooth
- Add sugar to cream cheese mixture and mix until smooth
- Add heavy cream, vanilla extract and egg and mix until just combined
Brownie Batter
- Melt butter over low heat in sauce pan
- Roughly chop chocolate
- Add chocolate into melted butter, stir in vanilla extract
- Beat eggs and sugar together
- Stir cooled chocolate mixture into eggs and sugar
- Sift flour, sugar, and salt
- Combine wet mixture into dry ingredients
- Preheat oven to 350 °F
- Liberally spray brownie pan with non stick cooking spray
- Line brownie pan with parchment paper
- Pour ¾ of brownie mixture into lined brownie pan and smooth
- Add cream cheese filling on top of brownie layer and smooth
- Take the reserved ¼ of brownie batter and add 2 tablespoons of hot water to it and mix until combined
- Use a spoon to add the remaining brownie batter on top of the cheesecake layer
- Use a cake tester, toothpick or knife to swirl the top brownie layer with the cheesecake layer
- Bake at 350 °F for approximately 50 to 60 minutes or until cake tester inserted comes out clean
- Let brownies cool for approximately 20 minutes before removing from pan
- Once brownies are completely cooled, slice and enjoy
Notes
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- Cream cheese must be room temperature before making cheesecake filing, cold cream cheese will be difficult to mix and will make a lumpy filling
- Butter can be melted in microwave in 15 second intervals if you prefer
- Sift flour and sugar to remove any lumps and ensure a smooth brownie batter
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