Decadent Brownies with Cream Cheese Swirl
Rich, fudgy brownies with a luscious cream cheese swirl that perfectly balances chocolate and tangy sweetness. Easy to make and perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Total Time: 50-55 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (85g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 8 oz (226g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine melted butter and sugar. Whisk until smooth and glossy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Sift together cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder in a separate bowl.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a rubber spatula until just combined. Batter should be thick and fudgy.
- In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese with sugar until smooth and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla extract, mixing until fully incorporated.
- Pour about two-thirds of the brownie batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
- Dollop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture over the batter, then pour the remaining brownie batter over the top in dollops.
- Using a butter knife or skewer, gently swirl the cream cheese and brownie batters together to create a marbled effect.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes. Insert a toothpick in the center; it should come out with a few moist crumbs but no wet batter.
- Cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.
Notes
Use room temperature eggs and cream cheese for smooth mixing. Do not overmix the batter to keep brownies fudgy. Start checking doneness at 32 minutes to avoid dryness. For defined swirls, chill cream cheese mixture for 10 minutes before dolloping. Variations include adding nuts, raspberries, or making vegan substitutions.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie (1/12th of
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 22
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Protein: 4
Keywords: brownies, cream cheese swirl, chocolate dessert, easy brownies, homemade brownies, fudgy brownies, cream cheese brownies