Description
Chocolate lovers rejoice with these divine Chocolate Cream Cheese Brownies, a luxurious dessert blending rich cocoa and silky cream cheese. Each bite delivers pure indulgence, promising a perfect balance of fudgy chocolate and tangy frosting that will delight you completely.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (140g) chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (50g) brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup (90g) all-purpose flour
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/4 cup (20g) Dutch processed cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:
- 4 ounces (113g) cream cheese, room temperature
- 4 tablespoons (57g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups (180g) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1–2 teaspoons milk, as needed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Create a parchment paper sling in an 8×8 inch baking pan, ensuring full coverage of bottom and two sides for easy removal.
- Combine chocolate chips and butter in a heat-safe bowl. Melt using a double boiler or microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each burst until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
- Incorporate both sugars into the molten chocolate mixture. Whisk in espresso powder, salt, and eggs until the batter becomes glossy and thoroughly blended.
- Gently fold cocoa powder into the wet ingredients, ensuring complete integration. Delicately mix in flour, being careful not to overmix and maintaining a light texture.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, spreading evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Allow to cool in the pan for 30 minutes.
- For the frosting, cream together butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Gradually add vanilla, powdered sugar, and milk, mixing until smooth. Adjust milk quantity for ideal spreading consistency.
- Once brownies have completely cooled, generously spread the cream cheese frosting across the surface. If frosting seems too soft, refrigerate for 20-30 minutes before slicing into squares.
Notes
- Prevent Crumbly Texture Ensure eggs and butter are at room temperature for a smoother, more cohesive batter that blends effortlessly.
- Control Chocolate Intensity Use high-quality dark chocolate or cocoa powder for deeper, richer flavor without excessive sweetness.
- Achieve Perfect Moisture Don’t overbake brownies – they should have a slight wobble in the center, guaranteeing fudgy, decadent results.
- Customize Frosting Experiment with flavor variations like adding espresso powder, orange zest, or a splash of bourbon to cream cheese frosting for unexpected complexity.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 312
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg