Pumpkin cheesecake brownies are the perfect dessert for when you can't decide between chocolate and pumpkin for dessert! Super fudgy brownies with creamy pumpkin cheesecake make for a decadent and comforting spiced delight!
Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies
My all-time favorite dessert, classic fudgy brownies, gets a fall twist with a layer of spiced pumpkin cheesecake! It's like having pumpkin pie, cheesecake, and chocolate brownies in one dessert.
How to Make Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies
Step 1: Prep. Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Grease and line an 8x8 inch square pan with parchment paper.
Step 2: Melt the unsalted butter and chocolate. You could do this in a microwave, but I suggest a double boiler. You know, so you don't over-nuke your chocolate. Once the chocolate and butter are melted, take it off the heat, stir in the instant espresso powder, and set it aside to cool. You won't taste the espresso in the brownies, but adding it intensifies the chocolate flavor!
Step 3: Add the rest of the ingredients. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and sugars together until it's pale and fluffy. Add the vanilla and chocolate and stir. Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, and salt, mix, and pour into the prepared pan and set aside.
Step 4: Make the pumpkin cheesecake batter. In a bowl, cream together the cream cheese and sugar. Make sure you don't have any lumps of cream cheese left! Mix in the rest of the ingredients using a spatula, making sure you're not whisking a bunch of air into the mixture.
Step 5: Swirl and bake. Place dollops of the cheesecake batter on the brownie layer, and use a skewer or chopstick and swirl the two batters. Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes. Let it cool in the pan completely before lifting it out to cut and serve!
Tip to achieving beautiful swirls
The biggest tip I can give to getting a beautifully swirled pumpkin cheesecake swirl brownie is to not over-swirl! It's fun to watch the two batters come together, but it's so easy to just keep going and end up with a muddled surface.
More Pumpkin Desserts
- These pumpkin bars and pumpkin blondies are perfect if you want more pumpkin dessert squares! They're both easy to make, but moist and deliciously spiced.
- This gluten-free pumpkin bread is my go-to snack during the fall! I love topping it with pumpkin seeds, but sometimes add a streusel topping to jazz it up!
- You know what's delicious for Thanksgiving and breakfast the morning after? Pumpkin pie! This rich and silky dairy-free pumpkin pie is my favorite, but I do make a vegan pumpkin pie for all my plant-based friends.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl Brownies
Ingredients
Brownie Layer
- 3 oz dark chocolate, chopped (I used 55% cacao)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, diced
- ½ teaspoon instant espresso powder
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ tablespoon dutch processed cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Pumpkin Cheesecake Layer
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- ¼ cup pumpkin purée
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 egg yolk
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
Brownie Layer
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C) and line an 8x8 inch (20x20 cm) square pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a heat-proof bowl, add the butter and chocolate. Heat over a double boiler until melted. Take the bowl off the heat and stir in the instant espresso powder. Set aside until cooled.
- In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, light brown sugar and granulated sugar until it turns fluffy and lighter in color. Add the vanilla extract.
- Pour the cooled chocolate mixture into the egg mixture while stirring. Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Mix until smooth and pour into the pan. Set aside.
Pumpkin Cheesecake
- In a bowl, cream together the cream cheese and sugar. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix using a spatula, being careful not to incorporate air into the mixture.
- Using a spoon, place dollops of the cheesecake batter on the brownie layer. Using a skewer or chopstick, swirl the two batters.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes. Let it cool in the pan completely before lifting it out to cut and serve.
The Gourmet Country Girl says
Yum! Pumpkin and dark chocolate sounds like a winning combination. I usually make pumpkin treats with white chocolate, but I am going to try these brownies. You've got my mouth watering just reading this post!
Ai says
Ooo I love the combination of pumpkin and white chocolate too! So delicious!
Angela says
Beautiful brownies, sharing this recipe with friends. Great for Thanksgiving here in America!
Ai says
Thank you Angela! Hope you and your friends enjoy it 🙂
Nisha says
Such a creative and delicious dessert , perfect for halloween !
Ai says
Thank you! The colors really are perfect for Halloween, right? 😉
Nart at Cooking with Nart says
Love all your baking creations, Ai. These look so beautiful and delicious. I'm all about pumpkin right now!
Ai says
Aw thank you so much Nart! I'm all about pumpkin too! Tis the season!!
LaRena Fry says
Hey, what's that over there. Sound of munching. Opps Sorry. Those were good. LOL. These look so scrumptious. Love there is pumpkin in them.
Ai says
Lol Thanks Larena! I love pumpkin desserts! Can't get enough of it!
Jacqueline Debono says
Wow pumpkin cheese cake and chocolate brownie in one. This is my new favourite autumn dessert!
Ai says
Thank you Jacqueline! Definitely my new favorite too 😉
Beth says
I love desserts that have layers when you cut into them, plus the flavors in these sound so good. The recipe uses such a small amount of flour that I'm tempted just to try it with GF flour. I won't over-swirl, I hope.
Ai says
I love layers too! I think it'll definitely work well with gluten-free flour! Let me know when you try it out 😀
Alpa says
These cheesecake brownies are a great treat for the kids. Lovely pics
Ai says
Thank you so much! Great for kids and adults!
Lathiya says
The pumpkin cheesecsake brownies looks awesome. Perfect for fall baking.
Ai says
Thank you so much Lathiya!
foodopium says
Pumpkin cheesecake brownies....are awesome had used pumpkin in cupcakes but brownie would be first time....Thanks for a great recipe !
Ai says
You're very welcome 😉