Cheesecake Brownies From Scratch

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These delicious cheesecake brownies have the perfect balance of chocolate and cheesecake, making them irresistible! Both layers are made from scratch using only natural ingredients.

The bottom layer is a homemade brownie base with a rich, fudgy cake texture and the creamy cheesecake layer will make you want to lick your plate clean. A sprinkle of chocolate chips on top take it to the next level. 

These are the brownies to make for the chocolate lover in your life. With their two layers of deliciousness, they are essentially two delicious desserts in one.

This recipe is inspired by King Arthur Flour’s Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies. Their recipe creates an elegant brownie with a cheesecake swirl. My version takes a more simplistic approach with a chocolate chip topping. Either way you go – with KAF’s recipe or my recipe – you’ll create homemade brownies that are better than what you get from boxed brownie mix.

Let’s look at how they are made.

Ingredients

For this recipe, you need the following:

Brownie Batter

• Unsalted butter
• Unsweetened baking chocolate
• Sugar
• Eggs
• Vanilla Extract
• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder

Cheesecake Filling Ingredients

• Softened cream cheese
• Sugar
• Eggs
• Vanilla Extract

Topping

• Semisweet chocolate chips

Exact measurements are in the recipe card.

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray and set it to the side. You can line the pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil if you’d like, but I find that these brownies come out pretty easily without those aids.

You’ll start with the brownie layer, since that is the bottom layer. Mix flour and baking powder in a small mixing bowl and set it aside.

Next, melt butter and chocolate together in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring between, until melted and combined. (It took me about a minute and half total microwaving time.)

If the melted chocolate is really hot, let it cool for a little bit before adding eggs. You don’t want the eggs to start cooking in the chocolate mixture.

Add sugar and eggs to the chocolate mixture, whisking until they are well combined. Add the dry ingredients (flour mixture) to the chocolate mixture and whisk well. Spread the brownie batter in an even layer on the bottom of the prepared baking pan.

For the cheesecake mixture, cream the cream cheese with granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add eggs and vanilla to the cream cheese mixture and beat well until the batter is smooth and creamy.

Pour the cheesecake batter in dollops over the unbaked brownies. Spread the cheesecake batter so that the brownies are covered. Sprinkle with chocolate chips before baking.

Baking Time

Place the brownies in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes. The brownies will start to pull away from the pan when they are finished.

Cool completely then cut into squares to serve. Store leftover brownies in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 3-4 days.

Can cheesecake brownies be frozen?

Absolutely! Just be sure to let them cool completely before wrapping them in plastic wrap and placing them in a zip-top freezer bag.

How do I thaw the brownies?

Remove them from the freezer and allow them to thaw on the counter for an hour. Alternatively, you can place them in the refrigerator to thaw overnight.

(I may or may not be known to eat them in their frozen state.)

Cheesecake Brownie Variations

Chocolate and coffee go together like peanut butter and jelly. If mocha is what you crave, add some espresso powder (2 teaspoons should do the trick) to the brownie batter before baking. Follow the rest of the directions and bam! You have mocha cheesecake brownies.

Like lemon? Instead of vanilla flavoring in the cheesecake, use ½  teaspoon of pure lemon extract and add the zest of one lemon to the cheesecake filling.

For the holidays, add a touch of peppermint to the brownie batter for a seasonal treat. (I recommend 1 to 1 ½  teaspoons of peppermint extract.)

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If you cannot get enough chocolate, check out my recipes for Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting and Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies.

Don’t Forget To Come Back And Let Us Know How Your Brownies Turned Out!