Cream cheese brownies combine rich, fudgy chocolate with a tangy, creamy cheesecake swirl. Here’s a simple recipe to make them from scratch.

Ingredients

For the Brownie Batter:

  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder

For the Cream Cheese Swirl:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven & Prep Pan
    • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
    • Grease or line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
  2. Make the Brownie Batter
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together melted butter and sugar until smooth.
    • Add eggs and vanilla extract, whisking until well combined.
    • Sift in cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder. Stir until just combined.
    • Pour most of the brownie batter into the pan, reserving about ¼ cup for swirling.
  3. Make the Cream Cheese Swirl
    • In a separate bowl, beat together cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth.
    • Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the brownie batter in the pan.
  4. Swirl the Batters
    • Dollop the reserved brownie batter over the cream cheese layer.
    • Use a knife or skewer to swirl the two layers together.
  5. Bake
    • Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
    • Let cool completely before slicing.
  6. Serve & Enjoy
    • Cut into squares and enjoy your rich, fudgy, and creamy cream cheese brownies

Image from Better Homes & Garden