Valentine strawberry cheesecake brownies (Print Version)

Fudgy chocolate brownies blended with creamy strawberry cheesecake swirls for a luscious dessert treat.

# Components:

→ Brownie Layer

01 - 4 oz unsalted butter
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
04 - 2 large eggs
05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Strawberry Cheesecake Layer

08 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
09 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
10 - 1 large egg
11 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - 1/3 cup strawberry jam or puree
13 - 2 to 3 fresh strawberries, finely diced

→ Decoration

14 - Fresh strawberries, halved
15 - White or dark chocolate shavings

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing overhang on sides for easy removal.
02 - In a medium saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Remove from heat and whisk in sugar and cocoa powder until smooth and combined.
03 - Stir in eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Add vanilla extract and mix until fully incorporated.
04 - Fold in flour and salt just until combined. Do not overmix. Reserve approximately 1/4 cup of brownie batter for swirling.
05 - Pour brownie batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly across the bottom.
06 - In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until creamy. Add sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and fully combined. Fold in strawberry jam or puree and diced strawberries.
07 - Pour cheesecake mixture over brownie batter. Dollop reserved brownie batter over top. Using a knife or skewer, gently swirl through layers to create marbled effect.
08 - Bake for 32 to 35 minutes until center is just set. A toothpick inserted in center should come out with a few moist crumbs.
09 - Allow to cool completely in pan. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting for clean slices.
10 - Cut into 16 squares and garnish with fresh strawberry halves and chocolate shavings if desired. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're fudgy, creamy, and fruity all at once, which means you get three textures in every bite without any of the fuss.
  • You can make them 2 hours ahead and they actually taste better cold, so you can focus on other things when someone special arrives.
02 -
  • Don't skip the refrigeration step thinking you're saving time, because warm brownies will crumble apart and you'll end up with a delicious mess instead of elegant squares.
  • If your cream cheese is even slightly cold when you mix it, it creates little pockets of resistance that show up as lumps in the final bake.
03 -
  • A warm knife dipped in hot water and wiped clean between each cut transforms the whole presentation from messy to bakery-quality in seconds.
  • Make these a day ahead and you actually let the flavors get to know each other better, plus you remove the stress of timing when company arrives.
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