• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Search All Recipes
    • Recipe Round-Ups
  • More
    • About
    • Work With Me!
    • Lifestyle
    • Outside the Kitchen
    • Kitchen Tips & Gifts
    • Contact

Framed Cooks

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Father’s Day Recipes!
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Father’s Day Recipes!
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ร—
    Framed Cooks ยป Recipes ยป Dessert

    Cheesecake Swirl Brownies

    Published: Apr 28, 2022 ยท Modified: Oct 28, 2024 by Kate Morgan Jackson ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    This easy recipe for cheesecake swirl brownies adds a creamy cheesecake center for a soft and luscious chocolate brownie that will melt in your mouth!

    Cheesecake Swirl Brownies on a wooden board.
    Jump to:
    • Why we love this recipe
    • Ingredients you need
    • How to make this recipe
    • Equipment we used for this recipe
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Other brownie recipes we love!
    • Could you leave us a review?
    • Cheesecake Swirl Brownies

    Why we love this recipe

    OH THESE BROWNIES.

    I have probably made hundreds of pans of various brownies over the course of this blog, and I have never, EVER gotten the rave reviews (and seen the brownie pilfering) that went on with this cheesecake swirl brownies.

    These are a lusciously soft brownie that you make from your favorite brownie mix…but before you bake it, you drop in spoonfuls of a super easy cheesecake batter, swirl everything around, pop it in the oven, and then spend the rest of the day explaining to people why they really should not eat four brownies in a row.

    I know I am sounding more hopped up than usual, but just make them. You’ll see what I mean (about both the taste and the pilfering!).

    Ingredients you need

    • Brownie Mix
    • Cream Cheese
    • Sour Cream
    • Sugar
    • Flour

    See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.

    How to make this recipe

    STEP 1: Preheat oven to 350.

    STEP 2: Line an 8 inch square baking pan with nonstick foil, with foil overlapping over the sides. Spray with cooking spray.

    STEP 3: Prepare an 18.3 ounce box of brownie mix according to package directions and set aside. (Leave it in the mixing bowl – don’t bake it yet!)

    STEP 4: Put 4 ounces of room temperature cream cheese, ½ cup of sour cream, ¼ cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of flour in a mixing bowl until smooth (I find a hand mixer works great for this step).  Set aside.

    STEP 5: Now to assemble!  Pour about ¾ of the the brownie mixture into the prepared pan (more or less – this doesn’t have to be exact).

    STEP 6: Drop the cream cheese mixture by spoonfuls on top of the brownie batter and spread it as best you can – it doesn’t have to completely cover it. If you have a cookie scoop it will work great for this part.

    STEP 7: Drop the remaining brownie batter by spoonfuls over the top of the cream cheese mixture. (Use that cookie scoop again!)

    STEP 8: Now for the fun part!  Take a knife and swirl it through the cream cheese and top brownie batter layer – you want a nice swirly pattern, leaving some room at the edges so you get that nice brownie crust all the way around.

    STEP 9: Pop it in the oven and bake for 35 minutes – a toothpick should come out mostly clean.

    STEP 10: Cool your brownies in the pan for about 30 minutes, and then lift them out with the foil “handles” and let them cool completely before cutting them into 16 squares.  I know, SO HARD!

    STEP 11: Realize that cream cheese and brownies are a match made in heaven!

    Equipment we used for this recipe

    These are some of my favorite kitchen tools! These are Amazon affiliate links, which means I get a little something if you buy through my links at no extra cost to you. (Which helps pay for all that bacon I keep buying! 😄) And I only share things I use and love. I’m so grateful for your support!

    • 8 x 8 Baking Pan: This is the ultimate baking pan for brownies, banana chocolate chip cake and anything else you can dream up!
    • Measuring Spoons: I love that these are not attached to a ring, and that they come in two shapes per spoon.
    • Measuring Cup: I have these angled measuring cups in all kinds of sizes – it’s very handy to get the measurements on the outside and the inside of the cup.
    • Mixing Bowls: The handles on these mixing bowls make them extra easy to hang on to while you are stirring away!
    • Hand Mixer: This is perfect for mixing up the cream cheese mixture.
    • Cookie Scoop: This is perfect for scooping up the cream cheese mixture and dropping it on the brownie batter.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I use any brand of brownie mix?

    Yep! Just make sure it is an 18.3 ounce box and you are good to go.

    Can I use lowfat cream cheese and/or sour cream?

    You can! Don’t use the non-fat kind though – the flavor and texture just won’t be the same.

    Can these be made ahead of time?

    They actually have to be, so that they have time to cool before you cut them up. And in the extremely rare case where they don’t get eaten all at once, they will keep for 2-3 days – cover them up with plastic wrap and store them in the fridge.

    Have a question that I didn’t cover?

    Leave your question (or comment or suggestion) in the Comments box below the recipe and I will answer pronto!

    I guess it just goes to show you, you can teach an old brownie new tricks! Brownies + Cheesecake = Dessert Heaven!

    Other brownie recipes we love!

    • Saucepan brownies with walnuts on a piece of parchment.
      Saucepan Brownies
    • Adult Brownies
    • Banana brownies on a wooden counter.
      Banana Brownies
    • easy Chai spiced brownies
      Chai Spiced Brownies

    Could you leave us a review?

    If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section.

    Print

    Cheesecake Swirl Brownies

    Cheesecake Swirl Brownies on a wooden board.
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 1 review

    This easy recipe for cheesecake swirl brownies adds a creamy cheesecake center for a soft and luscious chocolate brownie that will melt in your mouth!

    • Author: Kate Morgan Jackson
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 35 minutes
    • Total Time: 50 minutes
    • Yield: 16
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Vegetarian

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 18.3 ounce box Brownie mix (we used Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge)
    • 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • ¼ cup sugar
    • 1 tablespoon flour

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350.
    2. Line an 8 inch square baking pan with nonstick foil, with foil overlapping over the sides. Spray with cooking spray.
    3. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions and set aside (leave it in the mixing bowl – don’t bake it yet!).
    4. Put cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and flour in a mixing bowl until smooth.  Set aside.
    5. Now to assemble!  Pour about ¾ of the the brownie mixture into the prepared pan (more or less – this doesn’t have to be exact).
    6. Drop the cream cheese mixture by spoonfuls on top of the brownie batter and spread it as best you can – it doesn’t have to completely cover it.
    7. Drop the remaining brownie batter by spoonfuls over the top of the cream cheese mixture.
    8. Now for the fun part!  Take a knife and swirl it through the cream cheese and top brownie batter layer – you want a nice swirly pattern, leaving some room at the edges so you get that nice brownie crust all the way around.
    9. Pop it in the oven and bake for 50 minutes – a toothpick should come out mostly clean.
    10. Cool your brownies in the pan for about 30 minutes, and then lift them out with the foil “handles” and let them cool completely before cutting them into 16 squares.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag @FramedCooks on Facebook or Instagram…we want to see it!

    83 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Yummly

    Want every new recipe delivered right to your email inbox?

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jennifer says

      May 28, 2024 at 11:27 am

      These are next level! Like a bite sized chocolate cheesecake and simple to make.

      Reply
      • Kate Morgan Jackson says

        May 28, 2024 at 2:14 pm

        Two great tastes that taste great together, right? :)

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    Primary Sidebar

    Kate from Framed Cooks

    Hi, Iโ€™m Kate! Iโ€™m a recipe writer, food photographer and devoted bacon lover. Iโ€™m so glad youโ€™re here!

    More about me โ†’

    Father's Day Recipes!

    • steak and cherry tomato skewers
      Steak Skewers
    • Summer lasagna on a plate.
      Summer Lasagna
    • Shrimp cooked in beer in a bowl with a can of beer in the background.
      Shrimp Cooked In Beer
    • Bacon and egg pancakes on a plate.
      Bacon and Egg Pancakes
    • shredded pot roast
      Mimosa Fruit Salad
    • Sliced strawberry bread on a plate.
      Glazed Strawberry Bread

    Reader Favorites

    • Pastina with egg and cheese in a bowl.
      Pastina with Egg and Cheese, Otherwise Known As Comfort Food
    • Lemon Garlic Lobster Pasta in a bowl with a fork.
      Pasta with Lobster Sauce
    • Grandpa's Coca-Cola Ribs on a cutting board.
      Grandpa’s Coca-Cola Ribs
    • Pasta with Buttered Egg Sauce on a plate with a fork.
      Pasta with Egg Sauce
    • Soft scrambled eggs with ricotta on a plate.
      Ricotta Scrambled Eggs
    • Cheese Fries in a bowl on a wooden counter.
      Easy Cheese Fries

    Want every new recipe delivered right to your email inbox?

    Sign Me Up!

    Footer

    โ†‘ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Get in Touch

    • Contact

    Copyright ยฉ 2025 Framed Cooks

    All photographs ยฉ FramedCooks and may not be used for any purpose without written permission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.