Chocolate Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Satisfy your sweet cravings with these amazing chocolate brownies with cream cheese frosting. Topped with tangy cream cheese frosting. Renowned for their decadent, fudgy texture and intense cocoa flavor, chocolate brownies with cream cheese frosting are the ultimate chocolate delight. Plus, they'll leave you craving more with every single bite.

Whether you're just craving a brownie or wowing friends at a party, these brownies are guaranteed to be a smash hit, making everyone beg for more! If you love brownies and cream cheese frosting, check out my spiced banana cake and Nutella cheesecake brownies!

Why you'll love this recipe

• Irresistible Fudgy Texture. One of the main reasons people adore easy chocolate brownies with cream cheese icing is the fudgy texture. Providing an incredible mouthfeel with every bite, these brownies are dense, moist, and chewy. Chocolate cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting is divine as well.
• Tangy Cream Cheese Frosting. The chocolate cream cheese flavor combo is a personal favorite. Adding a twist to traditional brownies, tangy cream cheese frosting offers a delightful contrast. Check out my chocolate caramel cake as well!
• Portability and Versatility. Another reason people love dark chocolate brownies is their versatility and portability. If you're hosting a party, attending a potluck, or simply craving a sweet treat on the go, these brownies are the perfect option.

Equipment

Using a kitchen scale is a total game-changer for baking. It makes measuring ingredients super precise, so your cheesecake comes out perfect every single time. Plus, fewer measuring cups means less cleanup — and who doesn’t love that? Invest in one, and you’ll wonder how you ever baked without it

Ingredients

• Butter and vegetable oil make for the most irresistible fudgy texture.
• Instant espresso powder makes the chocolate flavor pop! I highly recommend using it. Check out my orange cake with chocolate ganache!
• Unsweetened chocolate is the key to achieving that rich cocoa taste without the added sugar. Chocolate cookies and cream cookies are chocolate heaven too!
• Salted butter in the cream cheese frosting for brownies offsets the sweetness of the entire dessert.
• The eggs cannot be replaced, they are the structure of the brownies.

See recipe card below for quantities.

Substitutions

• Walnuts in the batter would add a nice nutty toasty touch!
• If you're not a fan of cream cheese frosting, peanut butter frosting would also be amazing!
• Add red food coloring to make them red velvet brownies with cream cheese frosting.
• Serve these fudgy brownies with fresh fruit. Strawberries and raspberries would be incredible with the tangy chocolaty flavors. Strawberry white chocolate cheesecake is fruity and decadent.

This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions. These are just suggestions.

Instructions

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Line an 8X8 metal baking pan with parchment paper. Finely chop the unsweetened chocolate, place in a medium bowl.

Step 2. Melt the butter, pour the hot butter over the unsweetened chocolate, add the vegetable oil and espresso powder. Stir until combined and smooth (place in the microwave for about 20 seconds if the chocolate isn't fully melted) set aside.

Step 3. Place the eggs, egg yolk, and granulated sugar in a medium bowl.

Step 4. Beat until it has doubled in size and thickened, about 5 minutes.

Step 5. Pour in the butter chocolate mixture. Mix until just combined.

Step 6. Whisk together the flour, salt, and cocoa powder.

Step 7. Add the dry ingredients. Fold in until just combined. 

Step 8. Spread the batter out evenly into the pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top looks set and a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. Do not over bake.

Step 9. Prepare the cream cheese frosting, ensuring the cream cheese and butter are room temperature.

Step 10. Finally, beat until fluffy and smooth, top the cooled down brownies with the cream cheese frosting.

Hint: Line the baking pan with parchment paper, making sure it goes up and over the sides for easy removal.

Pro tips

• The brownies should not be over baked, a good way to know is sticking a toothpick in the middle and moist crumbs should be on the toothpick.
• I like baking in metal pans, it bakes more evenly. Always line the pan with parchment paper.
• If you want to quickly bring the eggs to room temperature, submerge them in a bowl of warm water.
• Full fat cream cheese, brick style is ideal for making the best cream cheese frosting.

FAQ

Storage

Room Temperature

If the chocolate brownies with cream cheese frosting are frosted, the cream cheese frosting can't be left out. The unfrosted brownies can be left out in an airtight container.

Refrigeration

The brownies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

Freezer

Store in an airtight container for up to 2 months in the freezer.

Related

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Did you try this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ rating below and share it on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest!

📖 Recipe

Chocolate Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Amanda Valsamis

These chocolate brownies with cream cheese frosting are the ultimate chocolate indulgence, with a rich, fudgy texture and tangy cream cheese frosting!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 43 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 16 bars

Equipment

• Kitchen Scale
• Mixing bowls
• Handheld or stand mixer
• Rubber Spatula
• 8X8 metal baking pan

Ingredients

  

• 141 grams unsalted butter melted
• 30 grams vegetable oil
• 90 grams unsweetened chocolate finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
• 3 eggs plus one yolk room temperature
• 335 grams granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 114 grams all purpose flour
• 35 grams cocoa powder natural

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 147 grams cream cheese room temperature, full fat, brick style
• 58 grams salted butter room temperature
• 232 grams powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8X8 metal baking pan with parchment paper. Finely chop the unsweetened chocolate, place in a medium bowl.
• Melt the butter, pour the hot butter over the unsweetened chocolate, add the vegetable oil, vanilla, and espresso powder. Stir until combined and smooth (place in the microwave for about 20 seconds if the chocolate isn't fully melted) set aside.
• Whisk together the flour, salt, and cocoa powder, set aside.
• Place the eggs, egg yolk, and granulated sugar in a medium bowl. Beat until it has doubled in size and thickened, about 5 minutes. Add the butter chocolate mixture. Mix until just combined.
• Add the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Pour in the pan, spread the batter out evenly. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top looks set and a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. Do not over bake.
• Frost with cream cheese frosting once completely cooled down.

Cream Cheese Frosting

• Beat the cream cheese and butter until combined and smooth. Add the powdered sugar, beat on low until combined, and then on medium until smooth, light, and fluffy.

Notes

The brownies should not be over baked, a good way to know is sticking a toothpick in the middle and moist crumbs should be on the toothpick.

I like baking in metal pans, it bakes more evenly. Always line the pan with parchment paper.

If you want to quickly bring the eggs to room temperature, submerge them in a bowl of warm water.

Full fat cream cheese, brick style is ideal for making the best cream cheese frosting.

Storage:

Room Temperature

If the brownies are frosted, the cream cheese frosting can't be left out. The unfrosted brownies can be left out in an airtight container.

Refrigeration

The brownies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

Freezer

Store in an airtight container for up to 2 months in the freezer.