Cream Cheese Brownies

The next time a brownie craving strikes, there’s no need to buy a boxed mix. It’s just as easy (and way more delicious) to make cream cheese brownies from scratch. This batter requires a simple blend of cocoa, flour, eggs, butter and sugar. A sweet cream cheese topping swirls elegantly on top. The recipe takes about 45 minutes from start to finish—less than an episode of your favorite streamer. Your efforts result in decadent, chocolatey, moist brownies that no one can pass up.

While similar to our cheesecake brownie squares in terms of flavor, the cream cheese mixture is simply swirled on the surface of these brownies. The others have a cheesecake-like filling spread between two layers of brownies, and are topped with a rich chocolaty frosting. Both are delicious, but these cream cheese brownies are more effortless, especially when you need a homemade dessert fix fast.

Ingredients for Cream Cheese Brownies

• Eggs: Separate the eggs for this recipe. You’ll use whites in the cream cheese layer and the brownie batter.
• Cream cheese: The recipe calls for low-fat cream cheese, also labeled Neufchatel. Regular cream cheese is also fine.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar sweetens the brownie layer and the cream cheese swirls.
• Butter: Softened butter makes for better bakes. Soften butter quickly by flattening it with a rolling pin or passing it through a box grater.
• Cocoa powder: The best cocoa powder gives the cream cheese swirl brownies their rich chocolate flavor.
• Flour: All-purpose flour helps stabilize the batter and gives the brownies structure.
• Vanilla extract: For extra-special cream cheese brownies, whip up a batch of homemade vanilla extract. You can also use any quality store-bought vanilla extract brand.

Directions

Step 1: Start the brownie batter

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Separate two eggs, putting each white in a separate bowl (discard the yolks or save them for another use). In a small bowl, beat the butter and 3/4 cup of sugar until crumbly.

Beat in the remaining whole egg, one of the whites and the vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth.

Editor’s Tip: Save the egg yolks! Store them in the fridge for up to four days or in the freezer for up to three months. To freeze, use an ice tray and defrost when needed. Some of the best leftover egg yolk recipes include ice cream and pecan pie.

Step 2: Add the dry ingredients

In a small bowl, combine the flour and cocoa powder. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture until blended. Pour the batter into a 9-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray.

Editor’s Tip: Don’t overmix the batter. It’s a brownie mistake that could make them dry and crumbly.

Step 3: Make the cream cheese topping

In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese and the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar until they’re combined. Then, beat in the remaining egg white.

Step 4: Add the swirl

Drop the cream cheese mixture by rounded tablespoonfuls over the batter, and cut through the batter with a knife to swirl.

Editor’s Tip: Pulling a butter knife through dollops of the cream cheese topping will create a swirling pattern on the surface, pulling brownie batter to the top and pushing some of the cream cheese topping deeper down.

Step 3: Bake the brownies

Bake the brownies until the edges pull away from the pan, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool the brownies in the pan on a wire rack before slicing and serving them.

Cream Cheese Brownies Variations

• Make chocolate chip brownies: Even the best brownie recipes can be better. For more chocolate, stir a cup of dark, milk or white chocolate chips into the batter before swirling in the cream cheese topping.
• Try them with raspberries: Stir some freeze-dried raspberries into the cream cheese mixture before swirling it into the brownie batter.
• Add peanut butter: Stir 1/4 cup of creamy peanut butter into the cream cheese mixture, and then swirl it into the batter.

How to Store Cream Cheese Brownies

Transfer the cooled and sliced cream cheese brownies to an airtight container to keep them soft and moist. Store the brownies in the refrigerator or in the freezer.

How long do cream cheese brownies last?

When brownies with a cream cheese swirl are kept in a tightly sealed container to protect the flavor and quality, they’ll last up to a week in the fridge.

Can you freeze cream cheese brownies?

Yes, these cream cheese brownies freeze well, so you can have a stash on hand for future dessert emergencies! Transfer the sliced brownies to a tightly sealed freezer container. Store them in the freezer for up to three months. To thaw them, move the container to the fridge and let the brownies defrost overnight.

Cream Cheese Brownies Tips

Can you make cream cheese brownies with boxed brownie mix?

You can easily add a cream cheese swirl to your favorite boxed brownie mix brand. Prepare the brownie batter according to the package directions and pour it into the greased pan. Prepare the cream cheese topping as directed in this recipe and swirl it into the batter.

How do you get a clean slice of cream cheese brownies?

To get the neatest possible slices from the cream cheese brownies, invert them from the pan onto a cutting board. Use a large chef’s knife (one of the four essential kitchen knives) to make long, clean cuts in a 4×3 grid to get 12 brownies. Wipe the knife off after each cut to keep the slices tidy.

Watch How to Make Swirled Cream Cheese Brownies

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