Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies
In short: Fudgy chocolate brownies marbled with a tangy cream cheese layer, baked in one pan and chilled for clean, bakery-style squares. It takes about 58 min in total and makes 16 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 33 min
- Resting
- 3 h
- Total
- 58 min
- Servings
- 16
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 230 kcal
Cream cheese swirl brownies give you two desserts in one pan: a dense, fudgy chocolate brownie and a tangy cheesecake ribbon on top. The cream cheese cuts the sweetness of the chocolate, and the pale swirls look impressive for very little effort, since you only need a knife to marble the two batters. Because of the cream cheese, the brownies keep best in the fridge and cut cleanest when thoroughly chilled.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a 23 cm (9 in) square pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides.
- Melt the butter and chocolate together over barely simmering water or in the microwave, stirring until smooth. Let it cool for 5 minutes, then whisk in the sugar, eggs and vanilla until thick and glossy.
- Sift the flour, cocoa and salt over the batter and fold until just combined. Spread about three-quarters of the batter in the pan.
- Beat the cream cheese with the sugar, egg and vanilla until completely smooth, with no lumps.
- Dollop the cream cheese mixture over the brownie layer, then drop spoonfuls of the remaining brownie batter between the dollops.
- Drag a knife through the batters in loose figure eights to marble them. Do not overmix, or the swirls will blur.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the edges are set and the center has only a slight wobble. Cool in the pan for 1 hour, then chill for at least 2 hours before lifting out and cutting.
Tips
- Soften the cream cheese fully at room temperature first. Cold cream cheese stays lumpy and will not blend smooth.
- Wipe the knife clean between cuts and keep the squares in the fridge. They are best served cool, straight from the refrigerator.
Questions and answers
Do cream cheese brownies need to be refrigerated?
Yes. Because of the cream cheese layer, store them covered in the fridge and eat them within 4 days.
Can I freeze cream cheese swirl brownies?
Yes. Chill them first, then freeze the squares wrapped individually for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge.
How do I know the cream cheese layer is baked?
The swirls should look set around the edges, with only a very slight wobble in the center. They finish setting as the pan cools and chills.
How long does it take to make Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies?
About 58 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 33 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies?
About 230 kcal per serving, with 3 g of protein, 21 g of carbohydrates and 15 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 230 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 21 g |
| Fat | 15 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 15 g |
| Sodium | 100 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
