Description
Cherry Cheesecake Brownies combine rich, fudgy chocolate brownie layers with a creamy cheesecake filling and sweet cherry pie topping, creating a decadent dessert perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Brownie Layer
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Cheesecake Layer
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Topping
- 1 cup cherry pie filling
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s at the right temperature for baking the brownies evenly.
- Melt Butter: In a saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over low heat, stirring occasionally until fully melted but not browned.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Remove the melted butter from heat and whisk in the granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Sift in the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, and salt. Stir gently until the batter is smooth and without lumps.
- Prepare Brownie Base: Grease a baking pan and pour half of the brownie batter evenly into the pan, spreading it to cover the bottom.
- Make Cheesecake Layer: In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy, with no lumps.
- Spread Cheesecake Layer: Gently spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the brownie batter in the pan, taking care not to mix the layers.
- Add Cherry Topping: Spoon dollops of cherry pie filling evenly over the cream cheese layer, distributing the fruit and syrup.
- Top with Remaining Batter: Carefully pour the remaining brownie batter over the cherry layer, spreading it gently to cover without mixing the layers.
- Bake: Place the baking pan in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and allow the cherry cheesecake brownies to cool completely in the pan before slicing into 16 squares and serving.
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature for easier mixing.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep brownies tender and fudgy.
- Use a toothpick test to check doneness—avoid overbaking to maintain moist texture.
- Let brownies cool fully to allow layers to set and prevent squishing when slicing.
- For extra cherry flavor, swirl some cherry pie filling into the cheesecake layer before topping with remaining brownie batter.
