Print

Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.5 from 125 reviews

These Cream Cheese Brownies combine rich, fudgy chocolate brownie batter with a smooth, tangy cream cheese swirl, creating a decadent dessert with a shiny, crackly crust and creamy texture. Perfectly baked to achieve a moist, fudgy center with visually appealing swirls, these brownies are an indulgent treat for any chocolate lover.

Ingredients

Scale

Brownie Batter

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted (still warm/hot)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ cup chocolate chips

Cream Cheese Mixture

  • 8 oz block cream cheese (softened)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
  • 1 large egg white
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and position a rack in the center. Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with foil or parchment paper, leaving a couple inches of overhang on two sides for easy extraction, then grease it lightly.
  2. Prepare Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the granulated sugar with the hot melted butter. Stir briefly and allow the mixture to rest undisturbed for 5 minutes so the sugar begins to dissolve, aiding in achieving a shiny, crackly crust. After resting, whisk vigorously for about 30 seconds. Add the eggs, water, and vanilla extract, whisking again for 30 seconds until well combined. Clean excess batter from the whisk.
  3. Add Dry Ingredients: Sprinkle cocoa powder, all-purpose flour, and kosher salt over the wet ingredients. Fold gently with a rubber spatula until the mixture is glossy and homogenous.
  4. Set Aside Swirl Batter: Scoop out about one-third of the brownie batter and set aside for the cream cheese swirl. Stir the chocolate chips into the remaining batter and spread this evenly in the prepared pan.
  5. Make Cream Cheese Mixture: Using a hand or stand mixer, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar, flour, egg white, and vanilla extract and beat until evenly combined, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Be careful not to overmix to maintain a creamy texture.
  6. Create Swirls: Using two tablespoons, alternate dropping dollops of the cream cheese mixture and the reserved brownie batter evenly over the chocolate chip brownie layer. With the tip of a sharp knife, gently swirl the two batters together, moving in a figure-8 or back-and-forth motion, avoiding deep swirling so the layers remain distinct and visible.
  7. Bake: Bake for 32 to 37 minutes until the brownies are mostly set but the cream cheese areas still slightly jiggle. Check doneness with a toothpick; moist, fudgy crumbs and melted chocolate are fine. To prevent the cream cheese swirls from darkening too much, cover loosely with foil during the last 5 minutes if needed.
  8. Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and transfer to a cooling rack. Allow to cool completely before lifting out using the foil/parchment overhang and slicing.

Notes

  • Using hot melted butter helps dissolve sugar to create the crackly brownie crust.
  • Do not overmix the cream cheese mixture to avoid tough texture.
  • Swirling lightly preserves visually distinct cream cheese patterns and texture contrast.
  • Check brownies at 32 minutes to avoid overbaking; a slight jiggle in cream cheese parts is desirable.
  • Using foil or parchment paper with overhang makes removing the brownies easy and clean.

Keywords: brownies, cream cheese brownies, chocolate brownies, swirl brownies, dessert, chocolate dessert, cream cheese swirl

Find it online: https://stirringwithstella.com/cream-cheese-swirl-brownies-recipe/