These Cherry Cheesecake Brownies start with fudgy homemade brownies, topped with cheesecake and cherry pie filling. They are the BEST brownies! Includes step by step recipe video
Table of Contents
When I came up with these brownies, I thought I was a complete genius.
I ate a lot of cheesecake in my University days.
When we lived in the city while I attended, we had a weekly “tradition”, if you will, with friends of ours: the guys went for wings and the girls went for cheesecake.
Kind of the best tradition ever, right?!?
Now that we have kids and don’t live in the city anymore, we don’t eat nearly as much cheesecake. It’s pretty sad, but luckily there are quite a few treats that are coming out of this kitchen.
These Cherry Cheesecake Brownies are one of my favorites (and I don’t make them nearly enough!), but this No Bake Oreo Cheesecake or even this classic Easy Cheesecake Recipe will do the trick just fine!
Luckily though, my good friend and cheesecake-eating partner was out for a visit the day that I made these the first time, so I had someone to share them with. She approved, and so here we are today!
Variations on these Cherry Cheesecake Brownies:
- You can swap the cherry pie filling for any flavor of pie filling — strawberry, blueberry or mixed berry would also be great!
- For a holiday twist, color the cheesecake filling with green food coloring (don’t add any mint flavoring though, I’m not sure mint and cherry are a good idea!)
- Make individual cherry cheesecake brownies in a muffin pan or mini muffin pan — use paper liners for easy removal
Tips and Tricks for Making the Cherry Cheesecake Brownies:
- The batter will be thick, so you won’t be able to spread the top layer well. That’s okay! It will just give you a peek of what’s inside.
- I use whole wheat flour because in this recipe you really can’t tell the difference. All purpose works perfectly as well!
- You can healthify the recipe slightly by using light cream cheese (which I usually do) and reduced sugar pie filling or making your own.
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Pin this recipe to your favorite boardCherry Cheesecake Brownies
Ingredients
Brownies:
- 1 cup butter melted, cooled slightly
- 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar 500g
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (or sub all-purpose) 190g
- 1 cup cocoa 95g
- 1/2 tsp salt
Cherry Cheesecake filling
- 1 8 oz package cream cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 can cherry pie filling
Instructions
- Line a 9×13″ pan with tin foil and spray with cooking spray — this makes for easy clean up. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- BrowniesIn a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and sugar until smooth. Add vanilla and eggs and whisk until combined.
- Add flour, cocoa and salt and stir until combined. Batter will be thick.
- Spread half (or just over half) of the batter into the bottom of the pan.
- Cherry Cheesecake filling:With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, egg, vanilla and sugar until smooth.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture over the brownie batter. Top with spoonfuls of cherry pie filling and spread slightly.
- Drop spoonfuls of remaining brownie batter on top of the pie filling. You won’t be able to spread the brownie batter easily, you will just try to cover a good amount (but certainly all) of the filling with the batter. Smooth out the batter the best that you can.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes, until center appears set. Note that your brownies might still have a little jiggle to them — this is because of all of that gooey deliciousness below. I baked mine for 35 minutes in a dark non-stick pan.
- Let cool to room temperature before cutting. They will cut more easily if refrigerated for a few hours, but I couldn’t wait, so I didn’t!
Nutrition Information
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Tag @thereciperebelPost and recipe updated from February 3, 2015
Julie @ Tastes of Lizzy T says
Lol! Your story is funny…I’ve done the same thing! These are still drool-worthy. Pinned!
Ashley says
Thanks Julie! Happens to me all the time!
Jenn @ Deliciously Sprinkled says
OMG, I seriously LOVE anything cherry! I need to make these cherry cheesecake brownies ASAP! Pinned 🙂
Ashley says
Thanks Jenn!
Melanie | Melanie Makes says
Cherry cheesecake AND brownies in a single bite? GENIUS! I’d make these in a heartbeat and definitely will be trying them soon. Pinned!
Ashley says
Thanks Melanie! We couldn’t get enough of them!
Becky | The Cookie Rookie says
Oh my gosh! These look so perfect for Valentine’s Day!
Ashley says
Thanks Becky!
Sarah @ The Gold Lining Girl says
Don’t you love when that happens? You think you have come up with something novel and new, and then you Google and it already exists? I stopped checking! It was too depressing! Haha! You are still genius, girl. These brownies are INSANE. I am being completely serious when I tell you that they are some of the most incredible looking brownies I’ve ever seen. These look *awesome*!
Ashley says
Haha, thanks Sarah! Every once in a while I am actually creative. There are just too many wonderful sources of inspiration out there! Lol
La Cuisine d'Helene says
They look so good, I SU and pinned them 🙂
Ashley says
Thanks Helene!
u says
I’ve never seen cherry cheesecake brownies before and I think they look amazing! I’m wishing I had a pan right now, and I would totally eat too many 🙂
Ashley says
Thanks Sherri! I know I did!
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Well, I think you’re a genius because these brownies look AMAZING! I love chocolate + cherries, and I love anything cheesecake, so these look like a total winner in my book!
Ashley says
Haha, thanks Denise!
Lauren | From Everyday To Goutmet says
I seriously did not need to know that these existed!! They look AMAZING!! Pinned!
Ashley says
Lol. Thanks Lauren!
Meaghan says
Wow Ashley these look fantastic!! I’m going to have to make these for Valentine’s Day 🙂 Thanks for sharing your recipe
Ashley says
Thanks Meaghan! I hope you like them!
Kristine @ Kristine's Kitchen says
I now have the biggest cheesecake brownie craving ever. I so wish I had a pan of these in my kitchen right now, but maybe it’s good I don’t because I know I would eat way too many! Original or not, these look absolutely incredible!
Ashley says
Oh my goodness, Kristine. It’s totally embarrassing how many I ate the first day!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I’ll take a whole pan of these, please! These look so amazing, Ashley! I seriously want to dig into these for breakfast. Love the cherry cheesecake combo!
Ashley says
Thanks Gayle!
DessertForTwo says
I AM SO SORRY I JUST CALLED YOU DANAE. While I was typing to you, I was thinking about how I owe my friend Danae an email. Oh my gosh, I’m so embarrassed! Sorry, Ashley!
Love and cupcakes,
Christina
Ashley says
Hahahaha — Forgiven! Let’s call it “baby brain”, shall we? Lol. Thanks Christina!
DessertForTwo says
Wow, Danae! These are beautiful! You’re right–I have seen something like these on pinterest before, but your version is the most beautiful version I’ve ever seen! YUM!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
These brownies look absolutely heavenly! I love black forest cake and making them into cheesecake brownies sounds totally amazing! It’s new to me so I’m glad you sharing it here 🙂
Ashley says
Thanks Kelly!
Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. says
Hahaha, the funniest thing about that story is that I just finished making some cherry cheesecake brownies yesterday after thinking to myself, hey, black forest brownies should be a thing and I’ve never seen that before! I guess I’m not that creative either! 🙂 Oh well. These look amazing, I love the marbled look!
Ashley says
Haha, who cares, right? They’re insanely delicious! Perfect fuel for us to actually be creative 🙂
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain says
These brownies are lovely, Ashley! So festive for Valentine’s Day and also just plain ole’ awesome because so much chocolatey goodness. 😀
Ashley says
Thanks Jess! I’m all about chocolately goodness!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
I love black forest desserts. Chocolate and cherry are so good together. I love that you added cream cheese to these brownies too! Delicious!
Ashley says
Thanks Natalie!
Shinee says
Gosh, I’m dead! This looks incredible, Ashley! Never ever think that you can’t share something just because someone out there already have done it. If you haven’t shared this today, the chances are I’d miss this fantastic dessert idea all together. So thank you! Oh my, I’ll be making this first thing after my trip!
Ashley says
Thanks Shinee! I’m sure it won’t even compare to the kinds of treats you’ll be enjoying overseas!
Melanie @ Carmel Moments says
Even if they’re not original they’re still pretty flippin’ incredible! Definitely deserve a pat on the back for these. 🙂
Ashley says
Haha, thanks Melanie!