Brownies with Cream Cheese Swirl (Fudgy)

creamcheesebrownies These Cream Cheese Brownies are rich, chocolatey fudgy brownies with a cheesecake ripple. This recipe is made with a simple and fudgy one-bowl brownie batter, then swirled with a foolproof 4-ingredient cheesecake batter. Nothing beats a classic, fudgy chocolate brownie… except maybe one that’s swirled with cheesecake. These cream cheese brownies are the ultimate sweet treat, made with ripples of cheesecake and whirls of rich chocolate. They’re also incredibly easy to make, with a one-bowl brownie recipe and a simple 4-ingredient cheesecake swirl.

Brownies:
12 Tbsp. butter, cut into Tbsp.-sized pieces
½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
1 egg yolk
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
½ tsp. sea salt
1 cup all-purpose flour, unbleached

Cheesecake Swirl:
8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
½ tsp. pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C/160°C fan, Gas Mark 4) and butter a metal 7x11" or 9x9" baking pan.

For the Brownie:
Combine butter and chocolate chips in a large glass bowl. Place over a simmering pot of hot water without it touching the bottom of the bowl. Stir until completely melted and well-combined.

Add cocoa powder and stir well. Add sugars, stir until completely combined. Add eggs and then egg yolk, one at a time, stirring well after each addition. Add vanilla extract and salt and stir to combine. Add flour and stir until completely combined.

Reserve ¼ cup of the batter and spread the rest of the batter evenly into prepared pan. Prepare your cheesecake topping.

For the Cheesecake:
Combine cream cheese and sugar in a medium-sized bowl. Use an electric mixer to beat until creamy. Stir in the egg and vanilla extract. Stir until well-combined.

Pour cheesecake over prepared brownie batter. Take your reserved ¼ cup brownie batter (if it has become stiff just stir it with a spoon) and drop/drizzle over cheesecake.

Use a knife to swirl brownie batter and cheesecake together.

Bake in a preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or the until center is set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with a few fudgy crumbs.

Allow to cool COMPLETELY before cutting and serving.