Description
These Cream Cheese Brownies come together quickly, are super chewy and moist, and will surely get you in the Halloween spirit! Perfect for spooky gatherings or festive treats.
Ingredients
Brownies:
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup boiling water
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (1/2 stick)
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 large egg yolks, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups golden sugar (such as Domino®)
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Cream Cheese Mixture:
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup golden sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Orange gel food coloring
Optional Decoration:
Candy eyeballs
Halloween sprinkles
Frosting or decorating icing to glue eyeballs
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Line a 13×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
2. Whisk cocoa powder and boiling water in a large bowl until smooth.
3. Add chocolate chips and whisk until melted.
4. Whisk in melted butter and oil. Mixture may look curdled.
5. Add eggs, yolks, and vanilla. Whisk until smooth.
6. Whisk in sugar until fully incorporated.
7. Add flour and salt, then mix with a spatula until combined.
8. Scrape batter into prepared pan, reserving 1/4 cup for swirling. Set aside.
9. In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until creamy.
10. Stir in egg and vanilla until well combined.
11. Add 5–10 drops orange gel food coloring and mix until even.
12. Dollop cream cheese mixture over brownie batter, then add reserved batter in between. Swirl with a knife carefully.
13. Bake for 25 minutes, or until center is set and a toothpick comes out with a few fudgy crumbs.
14. Lift brownies out using parchment paper and let cool completely on a wire rack, about 1 hour.
15. Optional: Decorate cooled brownies with candy eyeballs and Halloween sprinkles. Use frosting or icing to attach eyeballs if needed.
16. Cut into 2-inch squares and serve.
Notes
Start with just a few drops of orange food coloring and add more gradually to avoid an overly bright or unnatural color.
Avoid overbaking to maintain a chewy texture. Check for doneness with a toothpick—there should be fudgy crumbs but no wet batter.
Use a metal baking pan if possible. Glass pans retain heat and may cause overbaking.
Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the fridge for up to 10 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie
- Calories: 392
- Sugar: 36.2g
- Sodium: 146.9mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 14.2g
- Carbohydrates: 49g
- Fiber: 1.2g
- Protein: 4.7g
- Cholesterol: 85.2mg