These chocolate brownies with cream cheese frosting are rich and decadent! The brownies have gooey centers and lots of chocolate flavor from melted chocolate and cocoa powder. The smooth, thick layer of cream cheese frosting makes the brownies even more delicious!
What could be better than a pan of fudgy chocolate brownies? Brownies with cream cheese frosting! This recipe has a one-bowl brownie base that is thick, chewy, and decadent with a shiny, crinkled tops. I personally prefer dense, gooey brownies over cakey ones.
Myย small batch cream cheese frostingย is spread on top. Chocolate and sweet cream cheese is an incredible flavor combination!
I'm obsessed with cream cheese frosting. You can add it to other brownie recipes too, like these olive oil brownies, brownies with white chocolate chips, bourbon brownies, or small batch brownies in a loaf pan!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Fudgy brownies- These brownies have a lot of chocolate compared to dry ingredients. This ratio creates chocolatey, chewy brownies that have the perfect texture!
- Easy to make-ย You can make brownies with cream cheese frosting from scratch in 45 minutes with ingredients you probably already have. They taste better than boxed brownies!
- Customizable- You can add sprinkles and other mix-ins to the batter, or try different frosting recipes, like cinnamon cream cheese frosting or Oreo cream cheese frosting.
Key Ingredients
- Bittersweet chocolate- This chocolate is 70% cacao. Bittersweet chocolate makes the brownies not overwhelmingly sweet with the frosting. Dark chocolate works too
- Oil- Any flavorless oil, like canola oil or vegetable oil, helps make brownies moist.
- Granulated sugar and brown sugar- White sugar sweetens the brownie batter and makes them moist with crisp edges. Light or dark brown sugar adds more chew.
- Large eggs and egg white- Make sure the eggs are room temperature so they mix easily. Take them out of the refrigerator an hour before baking.
- All purpose flour- You need less flour than you'd think, so use a kitchen scale to measure it in grams for the most accurate results.
- Cocoa powder- I prefer Dutch-processed cocoa powder for a rich, chocolatey flavor and deep color, but natural unsweetened cocoa powder works too.
- Cream cheese- Use full-fat cream cheese that comes in a block. Cream cheese in a tub is too runny.
Ingredient Variations
- Different frosting: Try frosting the brownies with whipped chocolate ganache, almond buttercream, or chocolate fudge frosting. You can also try coffee cream cheese frosting or chocolate cream cheese frosting!
- Mix-ins: Add chopped chocolate, chocolate chips or chopped nuts to the batter or sprinkle them on top.
How to Make Them
Step 1: Melt the chocolate. Microwave it, stirring every 15 seconds until smooth. Then whisk in the oil.
Step 2: Beat the wet ingredients. Mixing the egg and sugar well helps create a shiny, crackly brownie top! The mixture should be frothy and pale.
Step 3: Add the chocolate and oil. Make sure the melted chocolate has cooled slightly before adding it to the egg mixture. It can scramble the eggs if it's still hot.
Step 4: Fold in the dry ingredients. Mix just until the dry streaks of flour disappear. This prevents overmixing, which can make the brownies dense.
Step 5: Bake! Pour the batter into a 9X9-inch square pan and bake. They're done when the edges are set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few sticky crumbs but no wet batter. The middle might look a bit underdone, but that's key for a fudgy texture!
Step 6: Cool. Transfer the brownies to a wire rack to cool completely. The frosting will melt off if they're still warm.
Step 7: Make the cream cheese frosting. Beat butter and cream cheese together, then slowly add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt until creamy.
Step 8: Frost the brownies. You can use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Slice and enjoy!
Storage Instructions
Store the brownies with frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you have leftover brownies without frosting, store them at room temperature in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the brownies can be baked up to 3 days ahead of time. Just make sure to cool them completely before adding the cream cheese frosting.
Overbaking the brownies can make them a bit dry and cakey instead of having chewy, fudgy centers. Take them out of the oven when a toothpick or knife inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs, but no wet batter.
Make sure the cream cheese and butter are softened but not melted. Also, use powdered sugar to thicken the frosting to the right consistency.
More Brownie Recipes to Try
๐ Recipe
Chocolate Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Equipment
- 1 square baking pan 8X8 or 9X9-inch
- 1 Electric hand mixer or stand mixer with the paddle attachment
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Ingredients
Brownies
- 180 grams chopped chocolate bittersweet or dark
- 108 grams oil canola or vegetable
- 200 grams granulated sugar
- 55 grams brown sugar light or dark
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1 egg white room temperature
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 94 grams all purpose flour
- 43 grams cocoa powder unsweetened or Dutch-processed
- ยฝ teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 56 grams unsalted butter softened
- 113 grams full fat cream cheese softened
- 240 grams powdered sugar
- ยฝ teaspoon vanilla extract
- โ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Brownies
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) and line a 8X8 or 9X9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl in the microwave, mixing every 15 seconds until completely smooth and melted. Whisk in the oil and let cool slightly.180 grams chopped chocolate, 108 grams oil
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, egg white, and vanilla extract together on medium-high speed for 2-4 minutes or until pale.200 grams granulated sugar, 55 grams brown sugar, 3 large eggs, 1 egg white, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- While beating, stream in the melted chocolate and oil. Continue mixing until well combined.
- Fold the all purpose flour, cocoa powder, and salt into the wet ingredients with a rubber spatula until the dry streaks disappear.94 grams all purpose flour, 43 grams cocoa powder, ยฝ teaspoon salt
- Pour the brownie batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth out the top. Bake for 26-32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs but no wet batter.
- Take the brownies out of the oven and let them cool completely in the pan before frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Beat the softened butter and cream cheese together in a large bowl with on medium-high speed until smooth and fluffy.56 grams unsalted butter, 113 grams full fat cream cheese
- Gradually beat in the powdered sugar one cup at a time on low until well combined.240 grams powdered sugar
- Add the vanilla extract and salt and mix on low until well combined. Increase the speed to medium, mixing until light and fluffy.ยฝ teaspoon vanilla extract, โ teaspoon salt
- Spread the frosting evenly across the pan of cooled brownies, slice, and enjoy!
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