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Halloween Swirl Cream Cheese Brownies

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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 Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies have a layer of rich, dark chocolate brownie topped with a layer of orange cheesecake then swirled together for a spooky treat. | Persnickety Plates

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

Halloween Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies have a layer of rich, dark chocolate brownie topped with a layer of orange cheesecake then swirled together for a spooky treat. | Persnickety Plates

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. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card.

  • 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 ColoringThis kit lets you easily make custom colors.
Halloween Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies have a layer of rich, dark chocolate brownie topped with a layer of orange cheesecake then swirled together for a spooky treat. | Persnickety Plates

Tips for making these brownies:

  • 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)!
Halloween Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies have a layer of rich, dark chocolate brownie topped with a layer of orange cheesecake then swirled together for a spooky treat. | Persnickety Plates

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.

Tools to help you make 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:

Halloween Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies have a layer of rich, dark chocolate brownie topped with a layer of orange cheesecake then swirled together for a spooky treat. | Persnickety Plates

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!

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orange & black halloween brownies.

Halloween Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies

Melissa Williams | Persnickety Plates
Halloween Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies have a layer of rich, dark chocolate brownie topped with a layer of orange cheesecake then swirled together for a spooky treat.
4.64 from 275 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 9 brownies
Calories 357 kcal

Ingredients
 

For the Brownie Layer:

For the Cream Cheese Layer:

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.

Video

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

Serving: 1gCalories: 357kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 5gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 232mgPotassium: 146mgFiber: 2gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 418IUCalcium: 44mgIron: 1mg

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.

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  1. Emma says

    5 stars
    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!

  2. Toni says

    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?

    • Chris says

      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

  3. Ash says

    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?

  4. Gabrielle says

    5 stars
    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.

  5. Trish says

    5 stars
    Easy to make and tasted delicious. Cooked perfectly just as recipe said. Will definitely make again.

  6. Erica O'Connor says

    5 stars
    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!

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