Red Velvet Brownies Cheesecake Swirl (Print Version)

Rich, fudgy brownies layered with tangy cream cheese for a luscious, visually stunning dessert.

# What You'll Need:

→ Red Velvet Brownie Layer

01 - ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 large eggs, at room temperature
04 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
05 - 1 tbsp red food coloring (liquid or gel)
06 - ¾ cup all-purpose flour
07 - 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
08 - ¼ tsp salt

→ Cheesecake Swirl

09 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
10 - ¼ cup granulated sugar
11 - 1 large egg yolk
12 - ½ tsp vanilla extract

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and sugar until smooth. Add eggs, vanilla extract, and red food coloring; whisk until fully combined.
03 - Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Fold gently with a spatula until just combined—do not overmix.
04 - Reserve about ¼ cup of the brownie batter for swirling. Spread the remaining batter evenly into the prepared pan.
05 - In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla; beat until creamy and well blended.
06 - Drop spoonfuls of the cheesecake mixture over the brownie batter in the pan. Dollop the reserved brownie batter on top.
07 - Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the cheesecake and brownie layers together to create a marbled effect.
08 - Bake for 32–35 minutes, or until the center is just set and a toothpick inserted comes out with a few moist crumbs.
09 - Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Lift out using the parchment overhang, slice into squares, and serve.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The tangy cheesecake layer cuts through the rich chocolate so every bite feels balanced and luxurious
  • They look like you spent hours making them, but the swirling technique is surprisingly forgiving and fun
02 -
  • Overmixing the flour develops gluten which makes brownies tough instead of tender and fudgy
  • The cheesecake layer sinks during baking so swirl from the top down to create depth in your marble pattern
03 -
  • Run your knife under hot water between slices for perfectly clean cuts
  • Add white chocolate chips to the brownie batter for pockets of creamy sweetness

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