Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies

Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies
A holiday-appropriate dish that’s rich, scrumptious, and totally decadent

Ready for festive? You’ll need some chocolate.

Happily, these chocolate cheesecake brownies jingle all the bells.

Because chocolate. And cheesecake. And most of all, brownies.

Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies

Recipe: Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies


Mrs. Kitchen Riffs is the dessert maker in our household, and this is her creation. It’s somewhat similar to our recipe for Chocolate Mascarpone Brownies, but with more cheese-forward flavor.  

These brownies are quite rich and moist. So, although you could eat them with your fingers, we prefer to plate them and use a fork.

Prep time for this recipe is 20 to 30 minutes. Baking time adds about 35 minutes. Then we suggest letting the brownies cool for at least an hour before cutting them into serving pieces.

This recipe yields about 24 servings (depending on how large you cut the brownies).

Ingredients

For the brownies: 

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon double-acting baking powder (see Notes)
  • 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter
  • 4 large eggs 
  • ~2 cups granulated sugar (see Notes)
  • ½ cup crème fraîche or sour cream (optional; see Notes)
  • 1½ to 1¾ cups unsweetened cocoa (see Notes)
  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

For the cheesecake swirl: 

  • 16 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (or more to taste)
  • ~¾ cup powdered sugar

Procedure 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (375°F if using a metal baking pan). Butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and line it with parchment paper.
  2. Whisk the flour and baking powder together and set aside.
  3. Melt the butter in the microwave, preferably in a lidded container (see Notes). Pour the melted butter into the bowl of a stand mixer. Cool the butter for two minutes, then add 4 eggs and beat until combined. Add the sugar and crème fraîche (if using), blending until smooth. Add the cocoa and mix until the batter is glossy (about 3 minutes).
  4. Add the dry ingredients (flour and baking powder) and mix until well combined. Add the chocolate chips and blend well. Pour the batter into the prepared dish. 
  5. Make the cheesecake swirl in a stand mixer (using a clean bowl): Add the cream cheese to the mixer bowl, then beat to soften. Mixing on low speed, add the two eggs and the vanilla extract. Then gradually add the powdered sugar. Mix all the ingredients together until smooth and well combined. Drop by spoonfuls onto the brownie batter and swirl in.
  6. Bake for about 35 minutes, or until the top begins to crack. Do not overbake.
  7. Remove the brownies from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Cut into pieces of about 2x2 inches.

Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies

 Notes

  • If you use a glass baking dish, make sure it’s ovenproof. Bake at 350°F (instead of 375°F) because glass holds heat more efficiently than metal. If you bake at a higher temperature, you risk burning the brownies.  
  • These brownies will puff up a bit in the baking dish, which is what causes the top to crack. That’s OK. 
  • It can be difficult to tell when brownies are done – and they may come out dry and taste-compromised if you over-bake them. Fortunately, these brownies are more forgiving than most. The crème fraîche and the cheesecake swirl help keep them fluffy even if they stay in the oven just a little too long.
  • Many recipes warn not to refrigerate brownies. That’s because, unless brownies are well sealed, refrigerators can suck the moisture out of them. Again, these brownies give you more leeway since the cheesecake component keeps them from drying out easily. But do seal them well if you decide to refrigerate.
  • Why use a lidded container when melting the butter? Because butter can explode in the microwave. Guess how we know this.  
  • How much sugar to use in the brownie batter? That’s up to you. Two cups will yield a flavor that’s pleasing but not too sweet. If you want sweeter, just increase the amount of sugar.
  • Crème fraîche is similar to sour cream. But crème fraîche has a higher fat content – and a richer taste. 
  • Crème fraîche is not a traditional ingredient for brownies, but it adds extra moisture and lusciousness. And it’s great in cheesecake (so you could just mix it into the cheesecake swirl if you prefer).
  • Many supermarkets stock crème fraîche (we usually see in the dairy case; sometimes in a cheese case). If yours doesn’t, it’s easy enough to make: Just combine 1 pint of heavy cream with 2 tablespoons of buttermilk in a nonreactive container. Cover, then let the mixture sit at room temperature until it’s as thick as you like (about 12 hours for us). Then refrigerate the mixture until you’re ready to use it.
  • For the unsweetened cocoa: Brownies are all about chocolate, so you want to use something good. We recommend using Dutch processed cocoa, which is less bitter than regular unsweetened cocoa. 
  • Start with 1½ cups of cocoa, then increase to 1¾ cups if you like extreme chocolate (as we do).
  • Vanilla extract seems to make the flavor of cheesecake pop. So adjust the amount to your taste. For this recipe, we used small-batch, aged vanilla extract (not cheap, but worth it). 
  • Almost every baking powder you’ll find on your grocery shelf is “double-acting.”
  • Baking powder does become weaker over time (and most baking powder tins have an expiration date). So replace your baking powder when necessary. We usually replace ours once a year, when daylight saving time ends (so we remember to do it).
  • It’s a good idea to shake baking powder before using it to make sure all its components are well mixed. Baking powder consists of baking soda, plus an acidic ingredient (which reacts with the baking soda to produce leavening) and a neutral substance (usually cornstarch) to provide bulk.
  • Programming Note: We’re ready for some R&R. So this will be our last post of 2021 – we’re taking off until the first Wednesday in 2022. See you then!

Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies
It’s Greek to Us

“I’m loving this,” I said. “Chocolate? Cheesecake? Swoon!”

“Just in time, too,” said Mrs Kitchen Riffs. “We need some comfort food now that omicron has ambushed us.”

“Are we going to slog through the entire Greek alphabet?” I said. “That would be a real pi in the face.”

“Psi,” said Mrs K R. “That joke didn’t please me one iota.”

“I thought it was very mu-ving,” I said.

“Theta’ll be enough,” said Mrs K R. “I may need a kappa-ccino to recover.”

Better stop before she lambdastes me. Happy Holidays, everyone!

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72 comments:

Angie's Recipes said...

Cheesecake and brownies...you have combined the two most decadent and irresistible desserts in one. Brilliant!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Angie, this IS totally irresistible. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Pam said...

Delicious! My family would love these brownies.

Mae Travels said...

Those look totally delicious. At least two of my favorite desserts in one.

About microwaving butter: the water in the butter causes the explosions. It is a little less messy if you cut the butter into 1/2 to 1 tablespoon sized pieces before microwaving. A lid still helps.

Have a good holiday!

best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pam, we loved them, too. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Mae, you're right that cutting the butter into pieces helps. A little. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Ben | Havocinthekitchen said...

Brownies and cheesecake make a such a terrific (Probably unbeatable!) combo. And these bars look so good and decadent. Loving your swirl, a beautiful marble effect.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Ben, it's a wonderful pairing. :-) Thanks for the comment.

mjskit said...

Those three words are 3 of the most dangerous words I could think of. :) How can these not be just absolutely delicious?! Mrs. KR outdid herself.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi MJ, those are dangerous words. :-) Thanks for the comment.

speedy70 said...

Ha un aspetto fantastico questa cheesecake, molto golosa!!!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Speedy, it IS fantastic. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes said...

Good job Mrs. Kitchen Riffs! These look amazing! Love those swirls :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Ashley, Mrs KR does good stuff, doesn't she? :-) Thanks for the comment.

R's Rue said...

Get in my belly now.

savorthebest said...

Oh, cheesecake and brownies have my heart :) This is the perfect combination

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi R, these belong there! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pat and Dahn, it's a wonderful combo -- SO good. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Family Spice said...

My two favorite desserts smashed into one delicious bar! This looks fabulous!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Laura, smashing desserts is fun! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Abbe@This is How I Cook said...

It is a good thing you do not live close, because I would have to have more than one. Thanks to Mrs. Riffs for adding to my waistline!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Abbe, more than one is the law, isn't it? :-) Thanks for the comment.

beyondkimchee said...

Oooh, this looks so yummy. I loved chocolate cheesecake brownies. Yours look fantastic! Perfect!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Holly, it's totally yummy. Totally. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Sherry's Pickings said...

you guys are so funny! love the look of these. Mrs KR you are a champion! QLD is opening our borders on Monday so i fear we will be swamped by interstate visitors bringing in the covid. oh what joy!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Sherry, Mrs KR definitely IS a champ. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kelly | Foodtasia said...

These look absolutley dreamy! Kudos to Mrs. KR!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Kelly, they ARE dreamy -- wonderful flavor. :-) Thanks for the comment.

New Classic r said...

I need a dessert for tomorrow night. Your post came just in nick of time.

Healthy World Cuisine said...

Our two favorite desserts wrapped up into one. These look super fudgy and decadent. Its a very good thing and also a very bad thing as we could never leave them alone. (lol) Wishing you and Mrs. Riff and very safe and happy holiday season.

Eva Taylor said...

Happy holidays John. These brownies look incredible, absolutely love the flavour combination.
Éva http://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com/

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi NCR, this is a good one -- enjoy. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Bobbi, this IS a bad thing. But such a good one! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Eva, it's a great combo of flavors -- SO decadent. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Sippity Sup said...

I think you picked a holiday winner. But I bet you knew that! GREG

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Greg, you bet right! But you knew that. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Balvinder said...

This absolutely looks drool worthy!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Balvinder, it is, it is. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Happy Retiree's Kitchen said...

Well done Mrs. KR, these look perfect for a decadent Christmas dessert. Such a clever combination of cheesecake and brownie, bringing both to the party.
Have a wonderful holiday, and Merry Christmas.It's been great and fun being in touch this past year.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pauline, aren't these nice? Hope your holidays are terrific, and thanks for the comment.

Food Gal said...

Two treats in one! Yum and double-yum! Now, that's the way to make the holidays even sweeter.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Carolyn, we're all for sweet holidays. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Evelyne CulturEatz said...

Well I have not been around in a bit and now you tease me with thas amazing dessert! How cruel lol. Looks amazing.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Evelyne, good to see you! Teasing is our specialty. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Amy (Savory Moments) said...

Oh yum - these look amazing! What a great treat!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Amy, they're wonderful! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

YES!! Two of my favorites in one! What a delicious holiday treat.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Liz, two of our favorites, too. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Raymund said...

Indeed that thing is festive, looks really good

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Raymund, it's wonderful. :-) Thanks for the comment.

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

brownies and cheesecake ? a match made in heaven. Looks easy, delicious, and festive. happy Holidays.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Judee, it is a heavenly match. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Valentina said...

Chocolate, brownies and cheesecake (in that order) are three of my favorite desserts. So clearly, I will have have to make these. Yum! Happy holiday season, John! :-) ~Valentina

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Valentina, you definitely will! :-) Thanks for the comment, and happy holidays!

Cocoa and Lavender said...

I have never made these, but I’ve always loved them. Maybe I will get to try them during the holidays! Wishing you and Mrs. KR a merry Christmas!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi David, brownies are SO worth making -- better than cake, and that's saying something. :-) Thanks for the comment and hope you have a terrific holiday!

The-FoodTrotter said...

What a delicious recipe! I should try definitely :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi FT, you should! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Inger said...

Years ago I used to make a chocolate cupcake with a dollop of cheesecake in the top. These look just as tasty (and more practical)!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Inger, cupcakes are good, but brownies are better. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Recetas al instante said...

Looks delicious.

I love chocolate.

Merry Christmas

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Olguis, we love chocolate too. :-) Thanks for the comment, and hope you have a terrific Christmas!

Fran @ G'day Souffle said...

I love the swirly colors on top of this desseret- very colorful plus they must taste delicious!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Fran, very delicious. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Laura Dembowski said...

These look like quite the decadent treat! I hope you are enjoying your holiday break!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Laura, these are great! And yes, we are enjoying our break. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Jeff the Chef said...

Thanks for this end-of-the-year finale! See you in 2022.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Jeff, thanks, and see you next year! :-)

handmade by amalia said...

A very yummy-looking way to welcome the new year!
Amalia
xo

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Amalia, thanks! And Happy New Year. :-)

bread&salt said...

Combination is great! I havent tried chocolate cheese cake before. Would like try it with dark chocolate pieces. Thanks for the recipe.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi B&S, this is really, really good. :-) Thanks for the comment.