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Cookie Butter Cheesecake Brownies

Chocolate, cream cheese, and cookie butter come together to make these decadent Cookie Butter Cheesecake Brownies!

overhead view of Cookie Butter Cheesecake Brownies on a white and brown speckled plate

I’m not sure how I had never combined three of my favorite things into a brownie, but we will go with the reliable “better late than never” sentiment. This recipe features a rich, fudgy brownie base that’s swirled with a cookie butter infused cheesecake batter, creating a beautiful marbled look and an irresistible flavor.

The cookie butter in this recipe lends these brownies a subtle spiced flavor that adds depth to the cheesecake-and-chocolate combination. While cheesecake brownies are always a treat, this version with cookie butter is a little something different!

What You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need to pick up to make Cookie Butter Cheesecake Brownies.

For the brownies:

  • Bittersweet chocolate discs or bar – Chocolate is the star here, so use a high-quality variety.
  • Unsalted butter – Using unsalted butter gives you more control over the salt level in the recipe.
  • Granulated sugar
  • Light brown sugar
  • Eggs – The eggs should be at room temperature.
  • Vanilla extract
  • Salt
  • All-purpose flour – Learn more: How to Measure Flour

For the cheesecake swirl:

  • Cream cheese – Let this come to room temperature so it can be beaten into a smooth, creamy filling.
  • Granulated sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Egg – You only need half of an egg for the cheesecake mixture. Lightly beat the egg, and measure half of that volume to use in the recipe. That’s usually about 1 1/2 tablespoons.
  • Cookie butter

Cookie butter (also known as Biscoff or Speculoos Cookie Butter) is made out of ground spice cookies, a fat to make it spreadable, flour, and sugar. Surprisingly, the consistency and mouthfeel are very similar to a nut butter despite being made from cookies!

Cookie Butter Cheesecake Brownies served on a white and brown speckled plate

Ready to make some rich, fudgy brownies? Let’s get started!

Prepare. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, with the paper overhanging by about 2 inches on opposite sides. Spray the paper with nonstick baking spray.

Melt the chocolate and butter. Place the chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at half-power in 30-second increments until the butter has melted and the chocolate melts when stirred. Continue stirring until the mixture is smooth, then set aside to cool slightly.

Mix remaining ingredients. Combine the sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl, then stir in the cooled chocolate mixture, followed by the flour. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly.

Make the cheesecake swirl. Use an electric mixer on medium speed to beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and egg until they’re smooth and creamy. Add the cookie butter and mix until combined.

Assemble. Drop the cheesecake mixture by the spoonful over the top of the brownie batter. Use an offset spatula or butter knife to swirl the cheesecake into the brownie batter.

Bake. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cool and cut. Let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Then, cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours before cutting into bars. To cut, use the overhanging parchment paper to transfer the brownies to a cutting board and cut them with a large chef’s knife.

Stack of 3 cookie butter cheesecake brownies on a plate

Tips for Success

Read my tips for baking brownies before getting started on this recipe. Here are a few additional pointers:

  • About the parchment sling. I like to line the pan with a parchment paper “sling” for a few reasons. The most obvious is to make it easy to remove the brownies from the pan, which also lets you transfer the brownies to a cutting board so you can cut them easily and save your pan from knife scratches.
  • Swirling the cheesecake mixture. I’m the first to admit that getting a pretty swirl in baked goods often eludes me. I find that using something very thin like a small offset spatula works well. Just dollop the cream cheese mixture over the top of the brownie batter and swirl just enough to get the two intertwined a bit. I often use small circular motions to start and then finish by making some straight lines with the spatula through the top.
  • Don’t rush it! The chilling time in the refrigerator will help you get nice, clean cuts on your brownies. 

How to Store

Transfer the Cookie Butter Cheesecake Brownies to an airtight storage container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. You can eat them chilled or let them come to room temperature just before serving.

Can I Freeze This Recipe?

You can freeze these brownies in an airtight storage container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

Cookie Butter Cheesecake Brownies stacked on a white and brown speckled plate

Cookie Butter Cheesecake Brownies

Yield 16 2-inch brownies
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Additional Time 4 hours
Total Time 5 hours 10 minutes

These soft, rich, spiced brownies feature an irresistible flavor combination!

overhead view of Cookie Butter Cheesecake Brownies on a white and brown speckled plate

Ingredients

For the brownies:

  • 4 ounces (113g) bittersweet chocolate (about 70% cacao) discs or bar (roughly chopped)
  • 
3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter
  • 
1 & 1/4 cups (250g) granulated sugar
  • 
1/2 cup (50g) firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour

For the cheesecake swirl:

  • 4 ounces (113g) cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 large egg*
  • 3 tablespoons cookie butter**

Instructions

To make the brownies:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper so that the paper overhangs by about 2 inches on opposite sides. Spray the paper with nonstick baking spray.
  2. Place the chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave at half-power in 30-second increments until the butter has melted and the chocolate melts when stirred. Stir until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.
  3. Combine the sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl. Add the cooled chocolate, and mix until combined.
  4. Add the flour, and mix just until combined.
  5. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, and spread evenly. Set aside.

To make the cheesecake swirl:

  1. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and egg until thoroughly combined and smooth. Add the cookie butter and mix until combined.
  2. Drop the cheesecake mixture by small amounts over the top of the brownie batter. Use an offset spatula or thin knife to swirl into the brownie batter.
  3. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until a pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  4. Cool the brownies completely in the pan on a wire rack. Then cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours before cutting into bars.
  5. To cut into bars, use the overhanging parchment paper to transfer the brownies to a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut into bars.

Notes

*Lightly beat the egg, and measure half of that volume to use in the recipe. That's usually about 1 & 1/2 tablespoons.

**Look for cookie butter alongside other spreads like peanut butter and Nutella.

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    9 Comments on “Cookie Butter Cheesecake Brownies”

  1. Can I use dutch chocolate cocoa powder instead of the chocolate bar? If so, how much do I use?

    • Replacing Bittersweet Chocolate With Cocoa Powder
      To create a good substitute for bittersweet chocolate, add one tablespoon of cocoa powder, one tablespoon of sugar and two teaspoons of butter to your recipe for each ounce of bittersweet chocolate that you’re replacing

    • Hi, Elanie. You can substitute, but keep in mind that solid chocolate has other ingredients that you’ll need to take into account. For every ounce of dark chocolate, try substituting 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/2 tablespoon sugar, and 1/2 tablespoon butter or oil. You may need to tweak the sugar content to get it just right, depending on your usual dark chocolate preferences.

  2. Cookie butter???? Can i just use butter?

    • Hi, Mary. No, that wouldn’t work. Cookie butter is a thick spread like peanut butter or Nutella. If you can’t find cookie butter (it should be alongside the other spreads I mentioned), then you could likely use peanut butter or Nutella instead.

  3. IIf doubling, would all ingredients be doubled or are there some that need to be altered? Thanks!

    • Hi, Aileen. I would just double everything if you’re using two 9-inch square pans. Keep in mind pan volumes when doubling, as a 9×13 pan won’t be large enough to get the same result.

  4. Wow! These brownies are amazing. I’m such a huge fan of cookie butter and these are just perfection!

  5. i tried this recipe and my brownies did not end up like what was described. the sugar sank to the bottom of my 9x9in pan and created a caramel-like layer. the brownie itself did not set and was still sticky even after being refrigerated for five hours, almost like i didn’t even bake it for an additional twenty minutes. the cheesecake swirl was dense and rubbery on top of that (literally). i followed the recipe and measured my ingredients correct. i’m not sure what exactly went wrong, but i knew something was sus about the 300g of sugar compared to the measly 120g of flour. bake or break? def should’ve taken the break.

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