Cream Cheese Brownies

By Becky Hardin

Published May 7, 2024

Cream cheese brownies with the text best cream cheese brownies. - 2

Cream cheese brownies are my ultimate guilty pleasure food! Homemade brownie batter and sweetened cream cheese are layered and swirled together before being baked to perfection in just 30 minutes. These bad boys are dangerous and liable to be gone in minutes! Perfect for parties, potlucks, and all other times I need a sinfully sweet treat!

side view of 3 stacked cream cheese brownies. - 5

There’s something so special about the combination of chocolate and cream cheese. It’s perfectly sweet and tangy– my sweet tooth is tingling just thinking about it! I’ve always made the cream cheese part myself and just plopped it on top of boxed brownie mix, but once I developed my own recipe for brownies from scratch , I knew I couldn’t go back. These fudgy cream cheese brownies are everything I want in a dessert and more!

What’s in This Cream Cheese Brownie Recipe?

Chocolate Chips: Semisweet chocolate chips create a balanced and rich chocolatey flavor and add moisture to the brownies. I have also successfully used 6 ounces of chopped semisweet chocolate instead.
Butter: Unsalted butter is my preferred fat for the richest flavor, but vegetable oil also works.
Cocoa Powder: Unsweetened cocoa powder enhances the chocolate flavor of these brownies, making it much more intense than if I had just used chocolate by itself.
Sugar: Granulated sugar sweetens both the brownie and the topping, while brown sugar adds additional moisture and depth of flavor to the brownie.
Eggs: Gives structure to both the brownie and the cream cheese topping.
Vanilla Extract : Enhances the sweet flavor of both the brownie and the cream cheese topping.
Flour: All-purpose flour gives these brownies just the right amount of structure to keep them nice and fudgy. For a cakier brownie, simply add more flour.
Cream Cheese: Creates a moist and tangy topping for these tasty brownies. Be sure to use brick-style cream cheese, not the kind that comes in a tub.

overhead view of cream cheese brownies, one is turned on its side to show the layers. - 6

Tips for Success

Line the baking pan with foil or parchment for easy removal– these brownies can get messy!
You can use low-fat cream cheese in place of regular cream cheese to lighten these up a little bit, but I do not recommend using fat-free cream cheese.
Make sure the cheese is at room temperature so that it combines easily and doesn’t clump.
Scoop and level the flour (or use a scale) for the best results. Too much flour will lead to cakier brownies.
To get pretty swirls, dollop the brownie mixture randomly on top of the cream cheese layer, then drag a knife or toothpick through in a figure-8 or S-shaped motion.
The center of your brownies should be chewy and moist, but not necessarily gooey. You want to make sure that the batter is cooked and not still raw in the center before removing them from the oven.

How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover cream cheese brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Enjoy cold, at room temperature, or gently heated in the microwave.

Freeze cream cheese brownies in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let thaw in the refrigerator before enjoying.

three-quarters view of a bitten cream cheese brownie on top of more brownies. - 7

Serving Suggestions

Brownies with cream cheese swirled so perfectly on top are equal parts pretty and scrumptious! With a dessert like this, I like to serve them (and show them off) are parties and potlucks with my favorite red velvet ice cream or white chocolate mousse . A smear of peanut butter fluff spread is so tasty on top!

Ingredients1x2x3x

For the Brownies

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

For the Cream Cheese Topping

▢ 8 ounces cream cheese 227 grams, room temperature (1 brick)
▢ ¼ cup granulated sugar 50 grams
▢ 1 large egg 50 grams, room temperature
▢ ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 grams

Video

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
In a double boiler set over low heat, melt chocolate chips and butter, stirring occasionally, until smooth. 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, ½ cup unsalted butter
Remove the pot from the heat and whisk in the cocoa powder, then set it aside to cool for 10 minutes. ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Whisk in the sugars and stir until completely combined. Add the eggs and whisk well. 1 cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup brown sugar, 3 large eggs
Stir in the vanilla and salt, then fold in the flour until just combined. Set aside and prepare the cream cheese topping. 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, 1 cup all-purpose flour
Place the cream cheese and sugar in a medium bowl, and use a hand mixer to beat until it’s combined and creamy, about 2 minutes. 8 ounces cream cheese, ¼ cup granulated sugar
Add the egg and vanilla extract, beating until well combined. 1 large egg, ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan, reserving about ¼ cup and setting it aside. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the brownie batter. Drop the remaining brownie batter over the cream cheese layer, then use a knife to swirl the layers together.
Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the center is set and a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean with only a few fudgy crumbs.
Allow the brownies to cool completely before cutting and serving.

Equipment

Kitchen Scale (optional)
8×8-inch Baking Pan
Hand Mixer

Becky’s Tips

Try stirring whole chocolate chips (or cream cheese chips) into the batter for even more flavor. Or toss in a handful of chopped walnuts for crunch.
Swirl some peanut butter or Nutella mixed with powdered sugar into the cream cheese mixture for fun flavor and a marbling effect, or try swirling in some fruit jam or lemon curd.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

How to Make Cream Cheese Brownies Step by Step

Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

overhead view of ingredients for cream cheese brownies. - 8

Melt the Chocolate: In a double boiler set over low heat, melt 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips and ½ cup of unsalted butter, stirring occasionally, until smooth.

melted chocolate and butter in a glass bowl with a whisk. - 9

Add the Cocoa: Remove the pot from the heat and whisk in ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, then set it aside to cool for 10 minutes.

cocoa powder added to melted chocolate in a glass bowl with a whisk. - 10

Sweeten the Chocolate: Whisk in 1 cup of granulated sugar and ¼ cup of brown sugar and stir until completely combined. Add 3 large eggs and whisk well.

eggs added to sugar and chocolate mixture in a glass bowl with a whisk. - 11

Make the Batter: Stir in 1½ teaspoons of pure vanilla extract and ½ teaspoon of kosher salt, then fold in 1 cup of all-purpose flour until just combined. Set aside and prepare the cream cheese topping.

brownie batter in a glass bowl with a wooden spoon. - 12

Beat the Cream Cheese: Place 8 ounces (1 brick) of cream cheese and ¼ cup of granulated sugar in a medium bowl, and use a hand mixer to beat until it’s combined and creamy, about 2 minutes.

whipped cream cheese in a glass bowl with a hand mixer. - 13

Add the Egg: Add 1 large egg and ½ teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, beating until well combined.

egg and vanilla added to whipped cream cheese in a glass bowl with a hand mixer. - 14

Swirl the Brownies: Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan, reserving about ¼ cup and setting it aside. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the brownie batter. Drop the remaining brownie batter over the cream cheese layer, then use a knife to swirl the layers together.

swirled cream cheese mixture and brownie batter in a square pan. - 15

Bake the Brownies: Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the center is set and a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean with only a few fudgy crumbs. Allow the brownies to cool completely before cutting and serving.

baked cream cheese brownies in a square pan. - 16

More Brownie Recipes To Try

Cosmic Brownies
Peanut Butter Brownies
Ferrero Rocher Brownies
Gluten Free Brownies
Strawberry Brownies
Pumpkin Brownies

Cream Cheese Brownies Recipe

Equipment

Kitchen Scale (optional)
8x8-inch Baking Pan
Hand Mixer