Chocolate Cappuccino Cheesecake Brownies are the perfect decadent dessert! A rich fudgy chocolate brownie bottom topped with a delightful cappuccino marbled cheesecake topping. These are super addictive, so you have been warned!
I hope you enjoy this recipe! ❤️ If you give it a try, please let me know how it turned out for you in the comments section at the bottom of the page or share a pic of your om noms on Instagram and tag @dishesanddustbunnies! ❤️
I was making homemade brownies long before I ever thought of starting a food blog! In fact, this is one of the very first recipes I created on my own. I'm so incredibly proud of this brownie recipe not only because of how delicious and addictive they are but because of the memories associated with them.
Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, I used to work in the office of a busy call center here in Toronto. My job was to analyze the data and figure out how to help the teams make more sales – it was stressful at times and involved a lot of math, but one of the things I always looked forward to was seeing the looks of satisfaction on my co-worker's faces when they'd try my cappuccino cheesecake brownies around Christmastime!
During the 6 years I worked for the company, I created a tradition of making a couple of batches of these squares and bringing them to share with everyone. My coworkers enjoyed them so much that they would ask every year when I'd be bringing the cheesecake brownies to the office! lol ❤️❤️ People who, on some days worked remotely, would make sure they were physically in the office on the day I would bring the brownies to share!
A few years later, I lost my recipe notes and the card I had written the recipe on! Fast forward to earlier this year (2021) when I moved into my new apartment, I found this cheesecake brownie recipe again, so now I'm finally sharing it with you! I'm so excited to make cheesecake brownies again!
What Ingredients are used to make Chocolate Cappuccino Cheesecake Brownies?
There are two main parts to making chocolate cappuccino cheesecake brownies. There is a brownie layer and a cheesecake layer.
The ingredients for the brownie mix that comprises the brownie layer include chopped bittersweet chocolate, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, baking powder and a little salt.
The ingredients for the sweetened cream cheese mixture that comprises the cheesecake filling/cheesecake layer include softened cream cheese, sugar, egg, instant coffee granules, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour and mini chocolate chips (I personally like to use semi sweet chocolate chips but you can experiment).
Be sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for full ingredients & instructions!
How to make Chocolate Cappuccino Cheesecake Brownie Squares – Overview
These incredibly impressive homemade brownies are actually surprisingly easy to make! At the bottom of this post, you'll find detailed instructions on how to create the yummy little squares, but first, before we begin, here is a short overview of how to make them. ❤️
Make the brownie batter: Melted semi-sweet chocolate is combined with butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt.
Make the cheesecake batter: Room temperature cream cheese is combined with sugar, an egg, instant coffee granules, vanilla, and a little bit of all-purpose flour.
Create layers: Pour the brownie batter into a greased square baking pan lined with parchment paper. Make sure to reserve about ½ cup of the brownie batter for the top layer when making your cheesecake swirls!
The cheesecake batter is poured on top of the brownie layer, then, using a small spoon, drop dollops of the ½ cup reserved brownie batter over top of the cheesecake layer. Using a toothpick or skewer, pull the dollops of remaining brownie batter around, making a decorative cheesecake swirl.
Add chocolate chips to the top before baking will give it the finishing touch!
Bake: Bake at 350°F for about 35 minutes. Allow the cheesecake brownies to cool (while still in the prepared pan) on a wire rack until just about room temperature.
Chill: Cover the cheesecake brownies and place them in the fridge to chill for at least 4 hours before serving.
Can I make Chocolate Cappuccino Cheesecake Brownies ahead of time?
Yes! This is a great make ahead dessert! These fudgy brownies are actually best if made a day or two in advance. This gives the rich chocolate flavor a chance to meld together with the cheesecake mixture and allows the texture of the brownie to soften slightly.
Simply store them in an airtight container at room temperature and enjoy whenever your sweet tooth strikes.
Do cheesecake brownies have to be refrigerated?
Plain chocolate brownies don't need to be refrigerated, however since these brownies have cheesecake in them they absolutely must be refrigerated when storing. In an airtight container, refrigerated cheesecake brownies can last about a week.
Cheesecake brownies can be left at room temperature if you are serving them at a party for a couple of hours, but no longer than that.
Chocolate Cappuccino Cheesecake Brownies Recipe Variations
While I believe the taste of these chocolate cappuccino brownies is perfect and complex as is, there's always room to get creative with your dessert cuisine!
Mint variation – Add ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract to the cheesecake layer.
Orange flavored variation – For a chocolate orange twist, add ½ teaspoon of orange extract to the cheesecake layer.
Toppings – Add chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or toffee bits to your brownies before baking.
Crushed Oreos – Crumble some Oreo cookies overtop of your cheesecake brownies. Just a few crumbs of Oreo cookies will add a satisfying crunch.
Caramel Sauce – Top your brownies with a drizzle of caramel sauce for an extra special treat!
How to serve Cheesecake Brownie Squares
Before serving, take them from the fridge and leave them on the counter for about 10 minutes – this will make sure that their texture is just right when served. You can also serve them chilled directly from the fridge and they'll be great, just a little firmer.
What to Serve with Chocolate Cappuccino Cheesecake Brownies
For those of you who like to entertain, these Chocolate Cappuccino Cheesecake Brownies are the perfect show-stopping dessert to serve. They are unique and sure to surprise your guests who may want something other than the same old thing.
I like to serve the chocolate cappuccino cheesecake brownies with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of chocolate sauce.
You can also top these brownies with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder.
Chocolate cappuccino cheesecake brownies also make for a natural compliment to a cup of homemade pumpkin spice latte, cappuccino, hot chocolate or tea.
How to store Cheesecake Brownies
These Chocolate Cappuccino Brownie Cheesecake Squares are so good, you might be tempted to eat them all in one sitting! lol 😋 But if you have self-control (or if you want to save some for later), here's how to store them:
First, let the cheesecake brownies cool completely. Chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours. Then, cut them into squares and place them in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to a week.
When you're ready to eat them, simply take them out of the fridge and let them warm up a bit but not to room temperature. Regular brownies are best eaten at room temperature but since these brownies have cheesecake in them they are best eaten chilled.
How long are Chocolate Cappuccino Cheesecake Brownies good for? in the fridge, freezer, etc.
Chocolate Cappuccino Cheesecake Brownies will stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week. If you want to keep them for longer, you can freeze cheesecake brownies for up to 3 months. Just make sure to wrap them well and keep them in an air tight container so they don’t dry out.
Since these cream cheese brownies have cheesecake in them you cannot store them at room temperature – these must be kept in the fridge or freezer.
If you enjoy Chocolate Cappuccino Cheesecake Brownies, you'll also love these recipes:
Chocolate Cappuccino Brownie Cheesecake Squares
- Total Time: 4 hours 50 minutes
- Yield: 20 squares 1x
Ingredients
Brownie Layer Ingredients:
- 3 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
- ⅓ cup butter, unsalted
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
Cheesecake Layer Ingredients:
- 1 cup cream cheese, softened
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp instant coffee granules
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Grease an 8″ square metal baking pan and line it with parchment paper. This will help you remove the brownies when they're ready.
Make the brownie batter:
- Melt the chocolate with the butter. You can do this in the microwave by heating 30-40 seconds, then stirring, then repeating until it's melted. Stir to combine the chocolate and butter. Allow to cool slightly.
- Whisk in the eggs, sugar and vanilla until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add this to the chocolate mixture and combine. Set aside until needed.
Make the Cheesecake batter:
- Using a mixer, beat the cream cheese with the sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg.
- Dissolve the instant coffee granules with the vanilla, then add to the cream cheese mixture. Combine.
- Next, add the flour and combine. Set aside mixture until needed.
To assemble the Cheesecake brownies:
- Before the next step, reserve 1/2 cup of the brownie batter in a small bowl. You'll need this for putting on top.
- Into the baking pan, the remaining brownie batter. Use a spatula to spread the batter evenly in the pan.
- On top of this, pour the cheesecake batter.
- Next, using a small spoon, drop dollops of the reserved brownie batter over top of the cheesecake layer. The batter will sink down some, but that's ok! Using a toothpick or skewer, pull the dollops of batter around, making decorative swirls.
- Sprinkle the top of the cheesecake brownies with mini chocolate chips.
- Place in the oven to bake for 35 minutes.
- Once finished baking, remove from the oven and place the pan on top of a wire rack to cool (while still in the pan!). Allow the cheesecake brownies to come to room temperature, cover with plastic wrap, then place in the fridge to chill for at least 4 hours before serving.
- Gently lift the brownie out of the baking pan by hold the sides of the parchment paper – it should slide right out. Now, using a sharp knife, cut the brownies into squares.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Time to chill: 4 hours
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
