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Cheesecake Brownies

Here is a fudgy and chewy brownie, topped with a thick, creamy cheesecake layer and more brownie swirled into gorgeous marbled and addictive Cheesecake Brownies. This recipe tastes like two delicious dessert flavors in one.

There is no other way to say it-- these gluten free, dairy free, and soy free Cheesecake Brownies are swirly, gooey, and irresistible.

Cut and serve with a cup of coffee, glass of cold dairy free chocolate milk, or even a mug of hot chocolate in the winter.

A person folding a cut out brownie with chunks of white cream cheese in it with an 8x8-inch baking dish filled with a baked marbled brownie mixture with swirls of cream cheese and dessert plates in the background.

Gluten free and dairy free Cheesecake Brownies are a wonderful dessert mash up. Each bite is the perfect balance of fudgy brownie with cream cheese swirled in.

Our best tip for preparing these brownies is to have all your ingredients premeasured and the cream cheese mixture ready before melting the butter in our homemade fudgy brownie recipe. Another suggestion is to serve these brownies chilled by either baking them earlier in the day or even the night before and storing them covered in the refrigerator.

cheesecake brownie ingredients

  • gluten and dairy free brownie mix-- use our easy and delicious 8x8-inch homemade fudgy brownie recipe or your go-to for an 8x8-inch baking pan.
  • dairy free cream cheese-- room temperature; we use Kite Hill Regular Cream Cheese. They have a store locator on their website here.
  • large egg-- room temperature
  • vanilla extract-- we use the McCormick brand
  • granulated sugar
  • nonstick spray-- grapeseed oil spray
  • optional add-ins-- ½ c. chopped nuts or dairy free chocolate chips to the brownie batter or sprinkled over the top of the marbled brownies before baking

kitchen utensils

  • large saucepan
  • spoons
  • assortment of measuring cups
  • 8x8-inch baking dish-- we use this Pyrex baking dish with a lid
  • kitchen knife
  • serving spatula-- these make it super easy to grab square brownies and bars out of baking dishes

frequently asked questions

what brownie mix can we use

Our favorite brownie mix is on our website, Fudgy Brownies. With just a few simple ingredients, you will enjoy using this recipe over and over. And this brownie batter fits the 8x8-inch baking dish of this Cheesecake Brownie recipe perfectly.

You can also use your favorite brownie batter recipe or a store-bought brownie mix. The King Arthur brand offers a certified gluten free brownie mix; however, they do caution that there is a possibility of dairy cross-contamination during the manufacturing process.

what cream cheese is suggested

We use dairy free Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese at room temperature for this recipe. One of their 8 oz containers works perfectly in this recipe. There are several other dairy free cream cheese brands available across the U.S. Again, using your favorite brand will ensure you love this recipe.

If you are preparing these brownies with traditional dairy ingredients, then use your favorite traditional cream cheese at room temperature.

can we leave cream cheese out overnight

No, you should not leave any kind of cream cheese out overnight because it will most likely spoil. This recipe calls for "room temperature" cream cheese. We suggest leaving it out 1-2 hours. For the recipe, dairy free cream cheese should be left out for 4 hours at the most.

can this be prepared and baked ahead of time

Yes, please do. We find the fudgy brownies are set and the thick cream cheese tastes better in this recipe after it has been chilled for a few hours or overnight.

If you want to serve these quicker, we recommend allowing brownies to cool completely before cutting with a serving spatula and serving.

how should this be stored

We suggest covering cooled brownies with a lid or wrapping tightly with plastic wrap and storing them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

can this recipe be frozen

We would suggest not freezing these brownies. Enjoy them fresh instead.

A collage of 4 pictures. The first is raw brownie batter in the bottom of a pan with white cream cheese mixture being spread over the top. The second pic is after someone took a knife and swirled the cream cheese and brownie batter together. The 3rd picture is after the marbled brownies have baked. And the 4th pic is after the cheesecake brownies have been cut.

more dessert recipes you will love

  • brownie cookies-- all the best parts of a brownie in a cookie...the fudgy cake-like middle, chewy edges, and crackly crust
  • nutter butter cookies-- imagine a mouthwatering peanut butter buttercream frosting sandwiched between two soft, crispy-edged cookies loaded with delicious peanut butter flavor to form the ultimate Nutter Butter Cookie
  • banana bread with cream cheesed frosting-- overripe bananas in a quick bread recipe topped with a rich and creamy bakery-style cream cheese frosting. You can even add chocolate chips
  • coffee blondies-- falling somewhere between cookie bars and brownies, these blondies are soft, chewy, and the ultimate rich dessert

one pot dinner recipes

  • lasagna skillet-- full of delicious lasagna flavor without the hustle and bustle of a traditional lasagna
  • sweet potato chili-- this is a chili loaded with tender sweet potato chunks, seasoned ground beef, hearty kidney beans, delicate red bell peppers, loads of spices and endless garnishes like bacon crumbles, green onions, fresh chopped cilantro, and diced red onions
  • potato corn chowder-- our chowder is filled with chunks of wholesome Golden Yukon Potatoes, piles of sunshine-yellow sweet corn, and tidbits of your favorite crispy bacon crumbles in a recipe to enjoy year-round.
  • taco tater tot skillet-- here is a kid-approved one pan dinner that has so many delicious and hearty flavors.
A person folding a cut out brownie with chunks of white cream cheese in it with an 8x8-inch baking dish filled with a baked marbled brownie mixture with swirls of cream cheese and dessert plates in the background.
A glass 8x8-inch baking dish filled with a baked marbled brownie mixture with swirls of cream cheese and dessert plates in the background.

Cheesecake Brownies

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Course: Dessert
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 12 squares

Ingredients

Cream Cheese Mixture

  • 8 oz dairy free cream cheese room temperature
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • c granulated sugar
  • optional add-ins include ½ c chopped nuts or ½ c dairy free chocolate chips

Brownie Mixture

  • 1 8x8-inch gluten and dairy free brownie batter not baked

Instructions

  • Preheat according to brownie batter directions. Spray 8x8-inch baking dish with nonstick spay; set aside.
  • In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese ingredients until well blended; set aside.
  • Prepare the brownie batter as directed. Scoop ⅓ c of batter out and set aside to use later.
  • Transfer remaining brownie batter into the baking dish evenly. Then layer with cream cheese mixture.
  • Next use a spoon to drop remaining brownie batter over the cream cheese. Using the tip of a knife, swirl the brownie and cream cheese mixture around to create a marbled effect.
  • Bake according to the brownie batter instructions. You may need to increase the bake time by 2-3 minutes. Check the brownies with a toothpick-- fudgy crumbs indicate the batter is too raw and needs more bake time.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely for several hours. Cover and refrigerate.

Nutritional Disclaimer

These Nutritional Facts are ESTIMATED. Your actual nutritional info with this recipe may vary depending on the brands you choose. “Eating Gluten and Dairy Free” is not a registered dietician or nutritionist. The provided nutritional info above is based on a generic calculator, if you want more accurate info, use your nutritional calculator of choice where you can choose brands and get more info that way.

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Recipe Rating




Alyssa

Sunday 20th of February 2022

Could this be made vegan? I can’t have egg ):

Jill

Tuesday 22nd of February 2022

Thank for reaching out. The cream cheese mixture should be ok without the egg. And please use your favorite egg free brownie mix, we have not tried our brownie batter egg free yet. Good luck and happy baking, Jill