Halloween Swirl Cream Cheese Brownies have a layer of rich, dark chocolate brownie topped with a layer of orange cheesecake then swirled together for a spooky treat. These are sure to be a perfect dessert treat for everyone at your Halloween party!
Halloween Brownies
It’s the second week of October so it’s appropriate that I’m sharing a Halloween recipe, right? When I pull up my Pinterest feed or step into any store, I’m already seeing all things Christmas. I feel behind and it’s not even November!
Halloween Swirl Cream Cheese Brownies
Confession Time:
To be honest, I did make these cream cheese brownies a couple months ago, but other things came up so I’m just now getting around to posting them. The problem with that is, I don’t know where I wrote down my notes for the recipe.
If I’m too prepared, I mess myself up.
Anyway, I found the recipe so you’re in luck and will have a chance to enjoy these Halloween themed cream cheese brownies for the spooky day!
Halloween Brownies Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
Jump- Sugar – Granulated sugar.
- Flour – All purpose flour.
- Cocoa Powder – I use Hershey’s Special Dark because you want it to be really dark/black.
- Salt – Helps enhance flavor.
- Baking Powder – For rise.
- Eggs – Large eggs.
- Vegetable Oil
- Vanilla Extract – A good quality vanilla extract, even though it’s pricey!
- Cream Cheese – A brick (8oz) at room temperature.
- Orange Food Coloring – This kit lets you easily make custom colors.
- Line your baking pan with parchment paper to make it easy to remove after baking
- Use a skewer instead of a spatula for more intricate swirls in your cream cheese brownies
- Use this same recipe for multiple holidays, simply change out the food coloring to match the holiday (like these Christmas Brownies)!
I like that the swirls in these cream cheese brownies have a creepy, spidery effect. You could leave out the food coloring and just make these “regular” and they’d still be really pretty.
Helpful Tools when making Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies
- Food Coloring Kit – this is the food coloring I use. I didn’t tell you exactly how much orange to use because it will depend on which kit you’re using. If you’re using the Wilton Color Right Performance Food Coloring Set I link here, it comes with a color formula chart that shows you exactly how many drops you need of each color to make bright colors, pastels, etc. It’s a really good kit. I have fun with it.
- 8 x 8 baking dish – love that this has a lid for easy storing.
- Brownie spatula – because you have to get them out of the pan!
FAQs
How to store them
Store leftovers covered in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Can I freeze them?
Yes, they should freeze well. I’d wrap them individually, then put them in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Can I double the recipe?
If you’d like more than the 8×8 pan, you can double the recipe and use a 9×13 pan.
Can I use a brownie mix?
Yes. If you’re in a pinch & want to use a mix instead of making the brownies from scratch, you can, just make sure you pick up a smaller pouch/box of brownie mix instead of the “family size” since this recipe is for an 8×8 pan.
Need more Halloween baking ideas? Try these:
- THIRTY Halloween Desserts – I compiled a great bunch of recipes in this list!
- Halloween Chocolate Tunnel Cake – the colors on this one are so fun!
- Brownie Bottom Halloween Cupcakes – brownie + cake = a whole lotta delicious.
- Black Cat Pudding Cups – these require no cooking and would be fun to send in as a class treat
- Jack-O-Lantern Brownie Bite – the kids will like to help decorate these.
- Best Halloween Party Food Ideas – not just baked goods, all kinds of ideas for your Halloween party.
This Halloween, have fun making our favorite Cream Cheese Brownies for a fun and spooky treat that everyone loves. This grown up dessert is a perfect treat everyone will love on the Halloween party buffet table this year!
Halloween Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies
Video
Ingredients
For the Brownie Layer:
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- ½ cup all purpose white flour
- ½ cup Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Layer:
- 8 oz cream cheese at room temp
- ¼ cup granulated white sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- orange food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8 x 8 baking dish with parchment paper or foil and spray with non-stick spray. Set aside.
For the Brownie Layer
- In a medium bowl, add the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder.1 cup granulated white sugar, ½ cup all purpose white flour, ½ cup Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- In a small bowl, add the eggs, oil, and vanilla. Mix with a fork until well combined.2 large eggs, ⅓ cup vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix with a spatula until just combined.
- Reserve 1/4 cup of the batter for the swirls then pour the remaining batter into the prepared baking dish.
For the Cream Cheese Layer
- In a medium bowl, add the cream cheese, sugar, egg, & vanilla. Blend until smooth.8 oz cream cheese, ¼ cup granulated white sugar, 1 large egg, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Add in the orange food coloring and stir to combine.orange food coloring
- Gently spread the cream cheese layer on top of the brownie batter.
- Drop tablespoons of the remaining brownie batter on top and gently swirl with a knife or skewer.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until set. Remove and let cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To freeze, wrap individually in plastic wrap then place in a freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- To double the recipe, use a 9×13 pan.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Taste is amazing! However 30-35 mins isn’t cutting it for me. I’m not sure what the deal is! I make it exactly as described and after 35 mins the bottom brownie layer is still batter. Ugh!
Would I be able to substitute the all purpose flour with almond flour or coconut flour? If so, what would you recommend for the binding agent?
I haven’t tested that.
3:1 almond flour to coconut flour is the perfect substitute for regular flour. So for 1 cup of flour, instead use 3/4 cup almond and 1/4 cup coconut flour. I use this cheat for baking all the time and it works well
Thanks for chiming in!
I enjoy this recipe, however I want to make it for a group where someone has an egg allergy. I have a plan for substituting in the brownies themselves but do you have suggestions on how to substitute the egg in the cream cheese layer?
I haven’t tested but found this that might be helpful –> egg replacements in cheesecake
I actually made these for a Tennessee tailgate. Colors were great and everyone loves a brownie. Followed the recipe and they turned out great! I’ll wish I had doubled the recipe when the teens see them.
ha, happy to hear that! 🙂
Easy to make and tasted delicious. Cooked perfectly just as recipe said. Will definitely make again.
I’m so glad you liked them!
These have been a big hit for several years and I’m always asked to make them for other holidays (I just omit or swap the food coloring accordingly). One issue I run into is that the batter is extremely think, almost paste like, so when it comes time to add drops to the cream cheese, it’s more like thick clumps. I make do but wonder if I’m doing something wrong. They’re delicious regardless, but I’d like to perfect the recipe. I follow the recipe exactly, so maybe you have some pointers. Thanks!
Unfortunately came across the same issues as others: the cream cheese topping was too runny while the brownie mix was very dense. Didn’t allow for swirling since the brownie mix would get covered by and mixed in wit) the cream cheese. The brownie itself tasted great, though!
Which brand of cream cheese did you use? & which food coloring? I’m trying to figure out the issue, but it’s hard to troubleshoot. You can see me making it & the consistency of mine here.
These are great! I used the Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese and they are really good. I am keeping them in the frig so the yogurt stays a little firmer. Thanks for the recipe. My family loves them. Can’t wait for the Grandkids to come and try them too.
so happy to hear that!
This sounds like a fun tasty , recipe . I’m very excited to try this
I hope you love them! Let me know 🙂
Easy and cute Halloween dessert. I used box mix to save time and they were still delicious. I might add eyeballs to the top next time to look spookier.
I love the eyeball idea!
If the recipe is doubled how long would it have to bake? That would be using a 9 x13 pan.
Check it at 40 minutes. The cheesecake layer should be just set.
These brownies are moist and look great for any holiday. I just change the color of the food coloring.
I love that! Thanks for letting me know 🙂
If I triple this recipe, will it be enough for a sheet cake pan? I want to make this for a Halloween party at a campground.
Which size sheet pan? I have never tried to triple it to say for sure.
Tasty recipe, but we found that the brownie dough was so dense that it just sank into the cream cheese mixture and therefore wasn’t visible when we swirled it.
THIS IS AMAZING I MADE IT IN COOKING CLASS AND I GOT EXTENDING GRADE AHHHHHHHH THANK YOU MELLISA 😩🥳
THIS IS AMAZING I MADE IT IN COOKING CLASS AND I GOT EXTENDING GRADE AHHHHHHHH THANK YOU MELLISA 😩🥳 YOU SO COOL
Hi. I love this recipe. How about if I do not put creamcheese on top? I will just bake the brownie layer. How much time and temperature for baking? Thank you for the reply.
The brownie layer on its own is my simple brownie recipe here 🙂
I made these exactly like the recipe said to and they didn’t turn out good. The color isn’t vibrant like the pic either and they were a weird consistency and didn’t taste very good. I’ve had better box brownies.
I’m sorry you didn’t like them. The color will depend on which coloring you use. The consistency is the same as all cheesecake brownies, but, if you like the box, you should probably stick with them 🙂