Cheesecake Brownies

by Addison LaBonte November 21, 2023

These cheesecake brownies are incredibly fudge like, chocolaty, and rich! This decadent dessert features a classic brownie base and swirls of vanilla cheesecake on top. They are such a fun take on the classic brownie recipe. Make these for birthdays, holidays, special occasions, or any regular day!

Thank you to Florida Crystals® for sponsoring this blog post! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These cheesecake brownies are rich and decadent.
They are more fun and festive than classic brownies. So are these Cosmic Brownies!
This is a delicious dessert for the whole family.
These brownies have a super rich and decadent flavor.
The texture is slightly more dense and gooey than typical brownies.
The vanilla cheesecake layer adds a creamy texture.
This recipe is gluten free friendly and made with Florida Crystals Regenerative Organic Certified® sugar.
It is a Regenerative Organic Certified® ingredient, making it perfect for the highest quality desserts.
This certification means that Florida Crystals® goes above and beyond organic farming by maximizing soil health, supporting animal welfare, and helping fight climate change.
Check out these Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cookies for another favorite dessert!

Ingredients & Substitutions

These are the main ingredients and substitutions for cheesecake brownies. Scroll down to the recipe card for full ingredients list and instructions.

Use room temperature cream cheese. Leave it on your kitchen counter a few hours before baking these brownies.
Florida Crystals® Regenerative Organic Certified® sugar gives these brownies the perfect amount of sweetness. I love that this sugar is less processed and unrefined. This certification means that Florida Crystals® maximizes soil health, supports animal welfare, and helps fight climate change.

Vanilla extract adds a homemade flavor to both layers.

Eggs help bind the brownies together and the cheesecake filling together. Do not use an egg replacement. If you are vegan, make these Vegan Brownies.

Use high quality chocolate chips for these brownies. Dark chocolate or semisweet chocolate is best.

Bittersweet chocolate is a little too intense for these brownies.

Use unsalted butter. If you only have salted butter, that is fine too.

Cocoa powder adds the chocolate flavor.
Both all purpose flour and gluten free 1 to 1 flour work well. I have not tried this recipe using another flour. Check out these Dark Chocolate Brownies for grain free or these Almond Flour Brownies.

Taste & Texture

These cheesecake brownies have a rich, chocolaty flavor with a creamy cheesecake swirl.

They are chocolaty and sweet.

The addition of the cheesecake makes them moist. In addition, it gives them a slight tangy taste that balances well with the richness of the chocolate.

How to Make

Step 1

First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line an 8 inch by 8 inch pan with parchment paper.

Step 2

In a mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, add the room temperature cream cheese and sugar. Beat for 2 minutes, until creamy.

Step 3

Then, add in the egg and vanilla. Beat until combined. Set aside.

Step 4

Make the brownie batter. Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Then, stir in the chocolate chips. Stir until completely smooth and creamy.

Step 5

In a large mixing bowl, add the Florida Crystals® Regenerative Organic Certified® Raw Cane Sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Whisk vigorously for 3 minutes, until light and frothy.

Step 6

Pour in the melted chocolate mixture. Stir to combine.

Step 7

Then, add in the flour and cocoa powder. Stir together.

Step 8

Pour ¾ of the brownie batter into the parchment lined pan. Smooth into an even layer.

Step 9

Drop spoonfuls of the cheesecake batter on top.

Step 10

Then, drop spoonfuls of the remaining brownie batter on top. Swirl together with a knife or toothpick.

Step 11

Bake for 25 to 27 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out mostly clean.

Step 12

Finally, remove the pan from the oven. Allow the cheesecake brownies to fully cool before slicing and serving!

Expert Tips & Tricks

Follow these tips to make the best cheesecake brownies.

Use an electric mixer or stand mixer to mix the cheesecake batter. Do not mix this by hand. Beat until the cream cheese is fully creamy.

Melt the butter fully. Then, stir in the chocolate chips until completely melted.

Whisk the eggs, sugar, and vanilla vigorously.

The brownie batter will be slightly thicker than regular brownie batter. This is designed to help uphold the cheesecake layer.

Both all purpose flour and gluten free 1 to 1 flour can be used. Do not use another flour.

Do not swirl the layers too much. Just a slight swirl is needed!

Do not bake too long. These cheesecake brownies will look soft and gooey. They will firm up slightly as they cool down.

How to Serve & Store

Serve these homemade cheesecake brownies once completely cooled and sliced.

Serve with hot chocolate, coffee, tea, or ice cream.

They are delicious served warm with cold ice cream!

Add hot fudge sauce or caramel sauce on top for the ultimate dessert.

Store these brownies in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freeze cheesecake brownies for 1 month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do brownies with cream cheese need to be refrigerated?

Yes, store these cheesecake brownies in the fridge.

What is the difference between chewy and cake-like brownies?

Chewy brownies have a higher fat-to-flour ratio than cakey brownies. They use more butter and chocolate, which gives them a richer, more fudgy texture. Cakey brownies, on the other hand, have a higher flour ratio. Cakey brownies are often leavened with baking powder, which helps them to rise and become more airy.

Is this recipe gluten free?

Use gluten free flour to make gluten free cheesecake brownies.

Which baking pan did you use?

I used an 8 inch by 8 inch metal square pan.

Can this recipe be made with boxed brownie mix?

I have not tried this recipe with boxed brownie mix, but it should work just fine.

How do you tell when they are baked?

Use a toothpick to determine if the brownies are baked. Insert a toothpick into the middle of the brownies. If it comes out mostly clean, they are done baking.

Equipment Needed

Hand Mixer: This hand mixer is great for beating the cream cheese mixture.

Pre-Cut Parchment Paper Sheets: Line brownie pan with parchment paper for easy clean up.

Pyrex 3 Glass Mixing Bowls: These are my favorite mixing bowls for baking brownies.

Pyrex Glass Measuring Cups: Use these glass measuring cups to measure out all of the ingredients.

Brownie Pan: A quality brownie pan makes such a difference! This one is high quality and bakes these cheesecake brownies perfectly.

Check out all of my kitchen favorites!