Valentine's Day Cheesecake Brownies
Rich, fudgy brownies with a creamy cheesecake swirl, perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 4 –6 drops red food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×9 inch baking pan and, if desired, line it with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and 2 cups granulated sugar until thick and glossy.
- Add 3 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste to the butter mixture and whisk just until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt until well combined.
- Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just until no dry streaks remain, then spread the brownie batter evenly in the prepared pan.
- In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and 1/4 cup granulated sugar until very smooth.
- Add 1 egg and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste to the cream cheese mixture and mix until creamy and glossy.
- Stir in the red food coloring until the color is evenly distributed and reaches your desired shade.
- Drop spoonfuls of the cheesecake mixture evenly over the brownie batter, leaving some brownie batter showing between dollops.
- Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the cheesecake mixture and brownie batter together to create a marbled pattern.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs but no wet batter.
- Place the pan on a wire rack and let the brownies cool completely in the pan before cutting into 16 squares.
Notes
- For the cleanest cuts, chill the cooled brownies in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours before slicing.
- Use room-temperature cream cheese so the cheesecake layer bakes smooth without lumps.
- Use room-temperature cream cheese so the cheesecake layer bakes smooth without lumps.