Chocolate Cheesecake Brownie

Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies are an exquisite combination of brownies and chocolate cheesecake that you can eat with your fingers!

These Brownie Bottom Cheesecake Bars will dazzle your friends and family. Who doesn’t love TWO desserts in one?

Why You Should Make these Cheesecake Brownies

• I took these Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies to a New Year’s party. Without even asking, I was given the perfect recipe review. As I walked by the table of men discussing football and other manly subjects, holding my tray of goodies, one of the guys commented, “These are a molecular chocolate explosion in my mouth.” It may not surprise you that he’s a notable nephrologist who happens to delve into the world of research.
• Instead of deciding between brownies or cheesecake for dessert, you get both with every bite of these.
• These brownie bottom cheesecake bars are finger food, so perfect to take to picnics and parties. But you may need napkins!

I’ll have to tell hubby that he needs to up his creativity when I’m begging for commentary. The usual “good, really good” just doesn’t cut it anymore!

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Make a Layered Brownie

To make these beauties, a brownie batter is spread in an even layer on the bottom of a prepared 8 x 8-inch pan, then topped with dollops of chocolate cheesecake batter. The goal was to swirl and marbleize the cheesecake batter into the brownie batter with a knife. Uh, guess I’m not so good at that, so I just smoothed out the second layer on top of the first. But if you want to play with swirling the cheesecake batter into the brownie batter, the results will be just as delicious!

Both the brownies and cheesecake bake together and the results are fabulous. If you like chocolate AND cheesecake, you’ll need to add these to your baking schedule.

Helpful Tips

• Line your pan with nonstick foil for easy removal without the edges sticking to the pan. The foil can be used as a sling to move the cooled brownies to a cutting board.
• If you don’t have nonstick foil on hand, line with regular foil and spray with a cooking spray like Pam.
• To melt chocolate in the microwave, chop it first, then place it in a microwave-safe bowl. Since it’s only 2 ounces, be careful not to zap it too long. Start with 20 seconds, then stop and stir. Repeat for another 15-20 seconds if needed, but once there are only a few small unmelted bits, let the residual heat finish the melting. Stir until completely smooth.
• You can also place the heat-safe bowl of chocolate over a pot of simmering water (the bowl should not touch the water, just nest in the pot above the water). Watch and stir occasionally until the chocolate is melted.
• Use a small offset spatula to spread and smooth out each layer. It’s one of my most used kitchen tools.

Ingredient Notes

• Butter – I use salted butter in my recipes. If you use unsalted butter, just add a touch more salt.
• Semi-sweet Chocolate, chopped – I keep a stash of Ghirardelli bars in all chocolate varieties. They are readily available at many supermarkets and are better for melting than chocolate chips. Chocolate chips can be used in a pinch if needed.
• Cocoa powder
• Sugar
• Eggs – Always use large eggs unless otherwise noted
• Vanilla – Always use real vanilla extract, never imitation
• Flour – I use King Arthur All-Purpose Flour. Any all-purpose flour will work well.
• Salt – I prefer finer table salt, not kosher salt for baking
• Cream cheese – must be at room temperature for the smoothest batter.

More Tasty Brownie Recipes

This recipe was first shared in March 2013. Photos and text were updated in 2021.

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The Recipe: Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies

When cheesecake and brownies collide, you'll get an exquisite treat!

Ingredients

• Recipe courtesy of Hugs and Cookies via Baking Bites

Brownies:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2/3 cup flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Cheesecake:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Line an 8 x 8 or 9 x 9 inch pan with non-stick foil (or with regular foil sprayed with non-stick spray). Set aside.
2. Gently melt chocolate and butter in microwave, stopping and stirring till smooth. Mix in cocoa powder. Set aside to cool.
3. In a large bowl, whisk the sugar, eggs and vanilla. While whisking, slowly pour chocolate into mixture. Stir till smooth. Sift flour and salt into the bowl and stir till just combined. Pour into prepared pan and smooth top. Set aside.
4. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, cocoa powder, egg and vanilla till smooth. Drop over brownie batter. Smooth over top (may swirl batters together with knife if desired...I did not).
5. Bake for 35-40 minutes till brownies and cheesecake are set. Knife inserted into center of brownies should come out clean.
6. Cool completely before cutting and serving. Store covered and refrigerated.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1 Servings
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 225Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 140mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 1gSugar: 19gProtein: 3g